A devastating fire outbreak has destroyed over 529 temporary stalls at Shuwaki Market in Gari Local Government Area of Kano State, the Kano State Fire Service confirmed.
Speaking with reporters, the Fire Service Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi, said the incident occurred around 3:25 p.m. after the agency received a distress call from Abdulmalik Muhammad of the Gari Fire Station. Firefighters were immediately deployed to the scene to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby areas.
According to Abdullahi, the affected section of the market covers about 3,000 by 2,500 feet and houses roughly 1,000 stalls, of which more than half were completely razed. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the inferno, though property worth millions of naira was destroyed.
The Fire Service spokesperson attributed the cause of the fire to the careless activities of drunk individuals residing within the market area. He emphasized the need for better security and monitoring to avoid such incidents in the future.
Abdullahi also advised traders and residents to be more cautious when handling fire and flammable materials, stressing that preventive measures are key to avoiding the loss of lives and property in markets across the state.
