Barely one week after a devastating fire ravaged over 1,000 shops at Singer Market, another major blaze has struck in Kano, throwing traders into fresh despair.
A dawn fire outbreak on Friday gutted no fewer than 50 shops at the Fatima Simra Multi-Purpose Market located in the Dakata area of the state.
Bellnews reports that the Chairman of the market’s fire committee, Dauda Haruna Chula, confirmed the incident, stating that the inferno broke out around 5:40 a.m., catching traders and residents off guard.
According to him, the affected shops were largely occupied by small-scale business owners involved in oil production and the recycling of plastics and nylon materials, items known to be highly flammable.
“From the preliminary what we have seen, about 50 shops are already down and the fire is still ongoing. We are still expecting the Kano State Fire Service personnel,” Chula said as the blaze continued to spread.
He explained that market leaders immediately contacted emergency responders and other relevant agencies upon noticing the outbreak.
“We did as much as we could to call them and inform them of the situation on the ground. I can hear the sound of their car right now,” he added, expressing cautious relief as sirens approached.
As of press time, the full extent of the destruction and any possible casualties had yet to be ascertained.
However, the latest incident has heightened concerns among residents and business owners in Kano, coming just days after a major inferno at Singer Market left thousands counting their losses and reignited questions about fire safety enforcement and emergency preparedness in the state.