A devastating fire broke out at the family residence of Former President, late Shehu Aliyu Shagari, located in the Gobirawa area of the Sokoto metropolis on Saturday. The incident, reported around 11 a.m., resulted in the complete destruction of the building, estimated to house over 20 family members.
Alhaji Umaru Sarkin Zangon, a neighbor, lamented, “The fire outbreak started around 11 a.m and razed the entire building.” Despite the efforts of the local community to control the fire before the arrival of fire services, their attempts proved futile.
Properties worth billions of naira were lost in the inferno, with the flames spreading to neighboring houses. Aisha Tsohon Gidan Shagari, an eyewitness, expressed concern, stating, “The fire escalated to the neighboring houses due to the lateness of the service vehicles to arrive at the incident scene on time.”
Disturbingly, the fire service personnel faced criticism from the locals for their delayed response. Witnesses reported hearing chants of “Bama so, Bama so,” meaning “We don’t want, we don’t want,” as frustration grew over the perceived inadequacy of the firefighting efforts.
While the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident. However, the impact on the Shagari family is substantial, as they now grapple with the loss of their ancestral home.
Source: Eye-witness accounts, Alhaji Umaru Sarkin Zangon, and Aisha Tsohon Gidan Shagari.
