An early morning fire on Wednesday claimed the lives of three family members of Dr. Yusuf Kofar-Mata, the Kano State Commissioner for Higher Education.
The fire broke out at his residence in Kofar-Mata quarters while the family was asleep.
Dr. Kofar-Mata narrowly escaped the disaster, but tragically lost his daughter Maimuna, his elder sister Khadija, and Juwairiyya, a close relative.
The fire also destroyed several valuables, though the exact extent of the damage and the cause of the fire are not yet known.
The Kano State Fire Service spokesperson, Abdullahi Saminu, confirmed the incident but stated that the level of damage and the cause of the fire could not be immediately ascertained.
In a brief statement posted on his verified social media account, Dr. Kofar-Mata expressed his deep grief: “Unto Allah, we came and to him we shall return.”
He added, “I mourn the loss of my daughter Maimuna (Islam), my senior sister, Hajiya Khadija, and my brother’s wife, Juwairiyya, who all perished in the fire accident this morning.”
Funeral prayers for the deceased were conducted at 11 am at Kofar-Mata quarters in Kano City.
