Sokoto community shudders after 50 mysterious infernos
Fifty - five year old Ibrahim Wanzam sat under a surviving tree among rubbles of what was once his shelter at Muzuru village, Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto State. He was counting his losses.”The raging fire destroyed our houses livestock, animal feed, food stuff and other household items,” a gloomy Wanzam bemoaned.
“I was pondering on how to reconstruct my house,” he told Daily Trust on Sunday.
For about 50 days, a series of mysterious infernos wreaked havoc on the sleepy community of over 5000 dwellers. Thankfully, no life was lost.
Most people still sleep in the open after their houses were gutted by blazes that affected 58 households.
“For fear of getting roasted while asleep in our rooms, most villagers now pass the nights in farmlands,” a resident revealed.
A 73 year old resident of the village, Muhammadu Bafashi recalled:” said it was around 9pm after observing the Isha prayer that the inferno came to the area. The raging fire destroyed all our household items. Nothing was salvaged.”
Another victim Umaru Chindo, 67 lost, a room and a store where he kept his animal feeds and some grains worth N150,000.
For Shehu Maishayi who lost properties and animal feeds worth 250,000, it was baffling the manner the fire struck at selected residence while others close by were left untouched.
“Only spirits can act in such a manner,” he said.
The village head,Magajin Muzuru, Muhammadu Garba, 60, linked the mysterious infernos to the action of some children from the village who set fire on an isolated tree in which a damo purportedly resides.
Damo is a giant reptile which farmers in rural areas usually come across in their farmlands during harvest. Some farmers kill damo for the meat.
“When the children, who were herding cattle, sighted the damo, they made bonfire which chased the damo out of the tree trunk. They caught it, roasted and ate it. Curiously , the children sighted a bigger damo but the one that came out was a smaller one, “Magajin Muzuru stated.
He added: “Three days later, fire erupted near the burnt kalgo tree which like a whirlwind rose to the sky and started to destroy houses with reckless abandon.”
“For seven weeks, the fire wreaked havoc on the village with only three days on which it ceased. A particular day witnessed 13 occurrences at different locations across the village with only three -five minutes interval. “
The village head noted: “In a particular day of sheer rage, the fire launched itself at a designated target and while people were trying to put it out, other infernos were occurring at intervals in different houses.”
The village head said he tried as much as he could to ascertain the boys who put fire on the isolated kalgo tree believed to be possessed by spirits jinns but to no avail.
“Right now, we have resorted to intense prayers for Allah’s intervention for normalcy to be restored in the village. We however thank Almighty Allah for his mercy despite all these, no life has been lost to the fire,” he said.
Magaji Garba solicited for support from federal, state and local governments as well as individuals and organizations to cushion the effect of the infernos on his people.
Member representing Yabo Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Garba Bello confirmed the situation and has presented it before the Assembly in a matter of urgent public importance.
He lamented that more than 50 households have been rendered homeless and that the people of the village were in distress.
Bello urged the House to call on the state government to come to the aid of the victims.
As at the time Daily Trust on Sunday visited the village, many inhabitants were seen sitting amidst wreckages of their burnt houses absorbed in thought of how to pick up the pieces.