A fire outbreak has destroyed three large stores at the popular Singer Market in Kano metropolis, causing significant losses estimated at millions of naira.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday and affected two market blocks identified as Gidan Mazaf and Gidan Mangoro. The fire reportedly broke out at about 1:00 a.m. and spread rapidly, engulfing three major stores before it was eventually brought under control.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Gidan Mangoro, Alhaji Abba Usman, said he was informed of the fire around 4:00 a.m., adding that officials of the Kano State Fire Service had already arrived at the scene before his arrival.
“The Kano State Fire Service responded promptly, even before I arrived. Aspire Company and Mamuda Group also supported the firefighting efforts, and we are very grateful for their assistance,” he said.
Alhaji Usman disclosed that goods worth approximately ₦30 million were destroyed in one of the affected stores alone. He also commended Aspire Company and Mamuda Group for providing support that helped in containing the inferno.
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An eyewitness, Kamal Sani, said he arrived at the market about 30 minutes after the fire started, noting that one store had already been engulfed before the flames spread to others.
“By the time I arrived, the fire had consumed one store and later spread to others. Three large stores containing food items and detergents were destroyed,” he said.
He added that at least eight fire service trucks were deployed to the scene, while some private companies provided additional water tankers to support the firefighting operation.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Saminu Yusuf Abdullahi, said the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, as investigations are ongoing.
“We received a distress call from traders at about 3:16 a.m. reporting a fire outbreak at Singer Market. On arrival, we discovered that the fire started in one of the market blocks.
Our personnel worked tirelessly to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other sections of the market,” he said.
He added that the agency is still assessing the number of affected shops and the total value of goods destroyed, noting that a comprehensive report would be issued after investigations are concluded.
(SOLACEBASE)