Kano Family Disputes Official Fire Explanation
A heartbreaking fire tragedy in Kano State has taken a controversial turn as family members of the victims strongly dispute the official explanation provided by authorities. The deadly blaze claimed the lives of four family members at Kundila, Layin Baba Impossible in Tarauni Local Government Area.
The fire occurred around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, killing 43-year-old Shodandi, his 30-year-old wife Rafi'a, and their two young daughters - 3-year-old Mardiya and 1-year, 6-month-old Yusira. The only survivor was 14-year-old Aminu Shodandi, who was rescued alive from the inferno.
Contradictory Accounts Emerge
The Kano State Fire Service had initially stated that preliminary findings suggested the fire was triggered by a mosquito coil left burning in the victims' parlour before they went to bed. Fire Service spokesperson Saminu Yusif Abdullahi had used the opportunity to advise residents to exercise caution with fire sources, especially during the harmattan season.
However, the family has completely rejected this explanation. The lone survivor, Aminu Shodeinde, who is a nephew to the late Rafi'a, provided a different account to reporters. "We often use mosquito coil in the house, but it was not what caused this fire," Aminu stated firmly.
Aminu recounted waking up around 3 a.m. to the sound of frantic screams as the family desperately searched for keys to escape. He described how the fire spread rapidly, forcing the father to attempt a heroic rescue of the children from inside the burning building - a final act of courage from which he did not return.
Family Points to Possible Arson
The late Rafi'a's father, Abdulraheem Abdulsalam, reinforced the survivor's account and alleged foul play. Abdulsalam revealed that the family had previously suffered three burglary incidents and claimed he had repeatedly advised them to relocate for safety reasons.
"People are saying it was mosquito coil, but what I saw there was not. They sprayed the house with petrol and set it on fire," Abdulsalam alleged. He further claimed that suspects arrested in earlier incidents had been released after only three days.
Visibly shaken by the tragedy, Abdulsalam shared the heartbreaking detail that the victims were burnt while holding one another and were buried in that same position. Despite his grave suspicions about the fire's origin, he stated he would not push for further investigation, instead submitting the matter to divine justice.
"If it was people that did this, they will not escape God's judgment," he declared solemnly.
Community in Mourning
The local community continues to mourn the tragic loss while authorities have yet to respond to the family's serious allegations. The conflicting accounts have created tension and raised questions about the true cause of the fire that destroyed an entire family in one terrible night.
As investigations potentially continue behind the scenes, the family's allegations of possible arson have added a disturbing dimension to what was already a devastating tragedy for the Kundila community in Kano State.
