A fire outbreak has razed parts of the Palace of the Emir of Jama’a in Kafanchan, the headquarters of Jema’a Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
Sources said the inferno affected apartments within the wing occupied by the Emir’s mother, sending panic through the palace and nearby neighbourhoods.
According to report the fire reportedly broke out while the family was preparing for the early evening prayers (Magrib). “People started shouting for help as thick smoke billowed from the building,” a resident told our correspondent. “It spread quickly before anything could be done.”
When journalists visited the palace smouldering and visible signs of destruction remained. Sections of the affected structure were badly charred, with several household items reduced to ashes. Residents and sympathisers thronged the palace to commiserate with the Emir and members of his family.
Eyewitnesses said officials of the Kaduna State Fire Service in Kafanchan responded to a distress call but were initially unable to contain the blaze. “Their pumping machine reportedly failed to start on arrival, which delayed firefighting efforts,” a source said.
The delay, residents noted, allowed the fire to spread and consume about four flats before additional support was mobilised. Local volunteers were said to have joined the effort to salvage property and prevent the fire from extending to other sections of the palace.
No casualties were reported as of the time of filing this report, though the incident caused significant damage. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and authorities are yet to issue an official statement detailing the extent of losses or the circumstances surrounding the outbreak.
Reacting to the incident, residents described the inferno as unfortunate and called for improved emergency response capacity in Kafanchan. “This should be a wake-up call,” a community member said. “We need better-equipped fire services to respond promptly when emergencies occur.”
