Fire has gutted a significant part of the State Police Command, causing extensive damage to several key offices within the command’s premises. The inferno, which reportedly broke out at approximately 5 a.m., ravaged the administrative block of the facility.
Among the affected offices were those of the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, the Chief Imam, the Chaplain, and the Chief Superintendent. According to reports from the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, the fire did not result in any casualties, as no one was in the building at the time of the incident. However, the loss of property is substantial.
Speaking to the press, ASP Rufa’i provided further details, explaining that "the offices of the Assistant Commissioner, Administration, the confidential office, and those of the Chief Imam and Chaplain were completely destroyed by the flames. Fortunately, there were no injuries or deaths."
Although the immediate cause of the fire remains unknown, authorities have ruled out foul play, with Rufa’i confirming that an investigation is underway to determine the source of the blaze and assess the full extent of the damages. "We are conducting a thorough investigation to unravel the cause of the fire and the level of destruction it caused," he added.
The fire has raised concerns about the safety and preparedness of police facilities in the region, especially as security challenges continue to plague Sokoto and surrounding areas. Despite the damage, operations at the command are expected to continue, though with some disruption due to the loss of essential administrative infrastructure.
This incident is the latest in a series of challenges faced by the Sokoto State Police, who have been grappling with issues ranging from banditry to human trafficking in recent years. Local residents and officials alike are anxiously awaiting the results of the investigation to understand how such a devastating fire could occur within a critical security institution.
