A mysterious fire has razed the shop of popular TikTok star Rahama Sa’idu, just hours after officials of the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) demolished the front shed of the building during an operation to clear structures encroaching on public pathways along UDB Road in Kano.
The incident, which occurred late Thursday night, has sparked controversy and speculation on social media, with netizens sharply divided over the cause of the fire.
Many social media users, particularly on Instagram, accused loyalists of the Kwankwasiyya political movement of orchestrating the fire as retaliation for what they described as Rahama’s perceived disrespect toward Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State. The claims stemmed from a viral video where Rahama criticized the State government shortly after KNUPDA removed her business signpost earlier on Wednesday.
However, the issue took another dimension on Facebook following a post by popular social media user Nasir Muhammad Nasir. In the post, Nasir alleged that Rahama and her associates may have intentionally set the structures on fire themselves. “I received confirmation from the barber operating next to her shop that she came with her people in the evening and packed all her goods before they set the fire by themselves,” he wrote.
So far, the Kano State Fire Service has not issued any official statement on the cause of the fire, leaving room for widespread speculation and heated debate.
Earlier on Thursday, Rahama had petitioned the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, led by Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, accusing KNUPDA of removing her billboard without prior notice or an opportunity to respond.
KNUPDA, in its defence, maintained that due process was followed and that all affected property owners were duly notified before the demolition commenced. The agency also completed the demolition of what it described as the remaining illegal portions of Rahama’s shop later that evening.
Rahama Sa’idu, widely followed on TikTok, now finds herself at the center of a political storm in the state. While some sympathised with her plight, others remained skeptical of her claims.
KNUPDA has since reaffirmed its commitment to clearing all illegal structures across Kano metropolis as part of its broader urban development agenda.
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