The Sokoto State Government has condoled with the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Muhammadu Bello Sifawa, over the loss of his daughter, three grandchildren and their maid through a fire incident.
The fire, which occurred at about 3.00 am on Monday, claimed the lives of Rabi’atu Bello Sifawa, daughter to the Secretary to the State Government and her three children, Fatimatu Bello Yusuf, Maryam Bello Yusuf, Abubakar Sadik Bello Yusuf as well a house help, Aishatu Muhammad.
Our correspondent gathered that the fire incident which started in the wee hours of the night engulfed the entire six-bedroom flat while the family members were sleeping.
The men of the state fire service could not salvage any item from the house as it was gutted before their arrival.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation as men of the state fire service battled for hours before they brought the fire down.
Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Sambo Bello Danchadi, described the incident as a tragic loss to the state.
“The Sokoto State Government and the entire citizens of the state mourn the death of the children and their mother. It is indeed a tragic loss.
“We commiserate with the Secretary to the State Government and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youths and Sports, who is the breadwinner of the family.
“We pray unto Allah to forgive the deceased and grant them all Aljannah Fridaus” he added.
Meanwhile, the funeral prayer for the deceased has been observed in Sifawa town, Bodinga Local Government.
Those in attendance at the funeral were the state Deputy Governor, Idris Muhammed Gobir; the Speaker, House of Assembly, Tukur Bala Bodinga; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, representatives of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, and the State Chief Judge, Justice Saidu Sifawa.
Others were the Grand Khadi, Shuaibu Sodangi Achida, Chief of Staff, Government House, Sokoto, Aminu Haliru Dikko, members of the legislature, commissioners and Special Advisers.
The remains of the deceased housewife and her three children were slated for burial at the Sheikh Shehu Usmanu Danfodiyo Mosque Sifawa, the family home of the Sokoto State SSG.
