Kano state INEC REC, family burnt to death

Minkaila Abdullahi, Kano state resident electoral commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has died.

Abdullahi died along with his wife and two children in the early hours of Friday, following an outbreak of fire at his official residence on Kashim Road, Nasarawa GRA in Kano.

Lawal Garba, assistant director of public affairs at INEC, confirmed the incident to NAN in Kano on Friday.

He said the deceased would be buried after the Friday prayer at his home town, Gantsa, in Buji local government area of Jigawa.

Balarabe Kabara, the Kano state director of fire service, Alhaji Balarabe Kabara, said his men received distress call from the neighbours of the deceased around 4.30 am on Friday.

He said the commissioner, his wife and two children died owing to injuries they sustained during the incident.

Magaji Musa Majia, an assistant superintendent of police and public relations officer of the Kano state police command, also confirmed the incident.

“Today at about 0430hrs, the policemen on guard duty at the official residence of the Resident Electoral Commissioner Kano state, Alh. Munkaila Abdullahi located at No. 2 Sir Kashim Road Nassarawa GRA Kano observed a fire emanating from split A/C in the sitting Room,” he said.

“They made several attempts to get in touch with him, including banging the doors and breaking some of the toilets windows, but he was not responding.

“The policemen and local guards broke the door leading to the sitting room and discovered the sitting room was engulf by fire and smoke. They then went to the side door leading to the masters bedroom, broke the door and entered.

“They were not inside the bedroom and the policemen then went to bathroom inside the master bedroom and found the REC, his wife and his two (2) daughters unconscious on the floor.

“They quickly removed them to Murtala Mohd Specialist Hospital where the doctor confirmed them dead. The doctor confirmed the family died from inhalation of hot and black smoke.”

Majia added that detectives attached to SCID sealed the scene and together with the fire service men, they have commenced thorough investigation of the fire incident.