A midnight fire on Wednesday razed the house of an Islamic cleric in Rajiyar Zaki area of Kano metropolis, killing the man, his wife and their eleven year-old son.
The victims, Malam Habibu Abdulhamid Sokoto 55, his wife Malama Aisha Muhammad 35 and their eleven year old Halifa, were asleep when the incident occurred.
Eyewitnesses said the inferno, believed to have been started by a water heater around 12am, engulfed their three bedroom apartment, trapping the family in one of the rooms, before killing them.
It was gathered that the family were withdrawn into their bathroom to escape from the fire, during which they were killed by smoke.
The witnesses and fire officials said the victims did not suffer any burns, but their bodies were swollen.
The deceased’s house help, Rabi Abdullahi, who witnessed the incident, told Daily Trust that she was awoken by thick smoke after the building had gone on flames.
She said all her efforts to open the victims’ bedroom door failed, following which she rushed outside to seek for help.
Operations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Kasim Musa, confirmed the incident.
Rest in peace ya sheik