No fewer than 1,000 businesses have been affected and properties worth over N5 billion destroyed following a devastating fire outbreak at Singer Market in Kano State.
The Chairman of Singer Market, Junaid Zakari, disclosed this on Sunday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Kano.
Zakari described the incident as one of the worst tragedies in the history of the market.
According to him, “This is one of the worst tragedies in the history of Singer Market. Four residential buildings housing small-scale businesses were completely razed.”
He added that goods, equipment, and other valuables were entirely burnt, crippling the livelihoods of hundreds of families.
Zakari further revealed that seven persons had died as of the time of filing this report.
“Seven persons have died as of now. Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths,” he said.
He noted that emergency responders and security agencies were working to ascertain the cause of the inferno.
The market chairman stressed the urgent need for support to enable affected traders to rebuild their businesses.
“This is a tragedy that will not be forgotten in the history of this market. We urgently need support to help traders get back on their feet,” Zakari stated.
He, however, commended the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for visiting the scene while the fire was still raging.
“The governor’s swift response shows concern and solidarity with the victims,” he added.
Authorities are yet to officially determine the cause of the fire as traders continued to salvage what was left of their goods.
One of the affected shop owners, Isa Abubakar, said he lost goods worth over N200 million in the incident.
“From God we come, and to Him we shall return. It is heartbreaking to see goods worth billions of naira destroyed by fire,” he said, while also commending the governor for his visit.
Another trader, Musa Ibrahim, lamented that he lost goods valued at over N340 million.
“The fire consumed everything we had,” he said.
Kano Times reports that Governor Yusuf had earlier called on the Federal Government to urgently provide modern firefighting equipment, including air support, following a second fire outbreak at the Singer Market in Kano metropolis.
The governor made the appeal on Saturday when he visited the Gidan Gilas section of the market as the fire was still raging and destroying shops and property.
