The Kano State Police Command has given details of the cause of the fire which killed Mukaila Abdullahi, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Kano State with his wife and children in the early hours of Friday, April 3, 2015.
Speaking to newsmen at his office, the Kano State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Idris explained that his men had begun investigations as to the circumstances leading up to the incident, ruling out sabotage, as earlier suspected, as Abdullahi’s residence is 500 meters from the Kano State Government House and about 10 meters from a heavily guarded security checkpoint in front of the residence of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in Zone 1, Tambari Yabo.
Idris said: “Today (yesterday) at about 4.30am, the policemen on guard duty at the official residence of the Kano Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Munkaila Abdullahi located at 2 Sir Kashim Road observed a fire emanating from split air conditioners in the sitting room.“
Idris explained that the policemen attempted to get in touch with the victims proved abortive after they discovered the sitting room engulfed in smoke. The unconscious bodies of the deceased were later found in the toilet of the master bedroom.
“They were quickly removed and moved to the Murtala Mohammed Hospital where doctors confirmed that the family of four died from inhaling hot and black smoke,” Idris stated.
Kano State Police Spokesman ASP Magaji Majiya, wjo confirmed the incident said the fire was suspected to have been caused by a spark in the family’s generator at about 4:30 am.
