Shehu of Borno, Umar-Garbai-el-Kanemi: loses brother in UNILAG fire

An inferno in one of the guest houses of the University of Lagos, has killed Umar Abubakar Garbai, brother of the new chancellor, Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar El-Kanemi,

The fire coincided with the 2014/2015 convocation of the 54 year old University. Installation of The Shehu as the seventh Chancellor of the university on Thursday.

Garbai was in the entourage that accompanied the monarch to the ceremony.

Garbai and other guests from Borno State were staying in the Guest House when the fire started.
He was said to have died of suffocation.

Others suffered varying degrees of injuries.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the incident. Zonal spokesperson of the agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, said: “There was a fire outbreak involving members of delegation of Shehu of Borno at UNILAG.

“The incident happened at the Shehu of Borno Guest House in UNILAG and one person died of suffocation. The deceased was a brother to Shehu of Borno, Umar Abubakar Garbai. Guest House A12 was involved.

“The deceased will be flown to Maiduguri for burial today. There are four guest rooms affected altogether – A12, A13, A14 and A15.”

Effort to speak with officials of the university, about the incident yielded no result as everyone claimed to be busy with the convocation events and could not talk to the media.