By Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
Sorrow engulfed Sokoto, North-West Nigeria, following a tragedy which rocked the ancient city early on Monday.
The development came when a deadly inferno claimed the lives of the daughter and three grandchildren of Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Muhammadu Bello Sifawa.
The fire engulfed the residence of the SSG’s daughter, a housewife married to the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Muhammadu Yusuf Bello.
The fire, which broke out while the family was asleep, quickly spread through the house, killing the housewife and her three children.
Her husband, however, survived it.
The cause of the fire is unknown and still under investigation even as firefighters battled for hours to extinguish the flames.
The bodies of the deceased are scheduled for burial at Sheikh Shehu Usmanu Danfodiyo Mosque, Sifawa, with funeral rites set to take place at midnight today at the family home.
Reacting to the tragedy, Sokoto Deputy Governor, Engr. Idris Mohammed Gobir, members of the State Executive Council, ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, and numerous friends and well-wishers have gathered to offer condolences and support to the grieving family.
Meanwhile, another fire outbreak had been recorded at Sokoto’s Kara Market on Saturday about 12:30 a.m.
The blaze continued to rage through the market well into Sunday afternoon.
Kara Market, popular for commercial activities in grains, essential commodities, and timber products, was severely affected, though no loss of life has been reported so far.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, but the state government, weekend, mobilized emergency services to contain it and investigate the cause.
These fires are the latest in a series of market fires that have plagued Sokoto over the years.
