Residents of Kafanchan in Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State were gripped by panic on Friday after a fire broke out at the Jama’a Emir’s Palace.
The incident occurred in the early hours of the day, with thick smoke seen rising from parts of the palace complex, drawing concerned residents and passersby to the scene.
The palace, situated in Kafanchan — the administrative headquarters of Jama’a LGA — is a key traditional landmark in the area.
As of the time this report was filed, the fire was still burning, while officials of the Kaduna State Fire Service worked to contain the blaze and stop it from spreading to other sections of the historic structure.
Eyewitnesses said the fire started in one part of the palace before escalating rapidly, prompting urgent calls for emergency response.
“We noticed smoke coming from a section of the palace, and within minutes, the flames intensified,” a resident who asked not to be named told Daily Trust.
Fire service personnel reportedly arrived shortly after receiving distress calls and immediately began efforts to put out the flames.
The heavy smoke attracted large crowds from nearby communities, many of whom expressed fears about possible damage to the revered building.
Security operatives were deployed to the area to manage the crowd and allow firefighters unrestricted access to the affected sections. Entry into some parts of the palace was temporarily restricted as emergency teams battled the inferno.
Volunteers were also seen assisting officials in controlling the situation.
As of press time, the cause of the fire had not been determined, and authorities had yet to issue an official statement detailing the extent of destruction or any losses recorded.
Firefighters, however, continued operations late into the day to fully extinguish the blaze.