Terrible Fire Destroys Kara Market In Sokoto State

Property estimated at hundreds of millions of naira have been destroyed by fire at the popular Kara market in Sokoto.
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Some of the items sold at the market included grains, onions, agricultural inputs, wheat offal, kola nuts, generators and spare parts, among others.
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The fire started at about midnight on Tuesday.
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It was said to have been ignited by an electrical spark at a shop opposite the Kofar-Kade gate.
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There was, however, no loss of life or injury in the inferno.
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The fire was still raging when NAN visited the scene at 6.30a.m. on Wednesday.
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Some of the traders were able to salvage some of their wares, while others were seen guarding their property against thieves.
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Some traders told NAN that the spark was caused by the restoration of power supply.
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“There was no light at the market since 6p.m. on Tuesday. It was restored at about midnight.
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“That was believed to be the genesis of the unfortunate fire incident’’, Alhaji Musa Danhajiya, a victim, said.
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Another victim, Malam Yusuf Labbo, told NAN that: “we have lost property worth hundreds of millions of naira and cash.
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“The fire was put off by some good Samaritans and the victims, and we are still guarding our salvaged items.’’
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The Secretary of the Kola Nuts Sellers Association in Sokoto state, Mr Shina Agboola, told NAN that the fire had caused tremendous damage at the market.
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Agboola said: “my association has over 108 members at the affected market and they had suffered huge losses.
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“We are therefore appealing to the government to come to the aid of the victims’’, he added.
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The Director-General, Sokoto State Fire Service, Alhaji Harande Chedi, confirmed the incident, saying no life was lost.
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Chedi, however, said the service would investigate the allegation of restoration of electricity and power surge to ascertain the cause of the inferno.
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On his part, the Director-General of the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Hassan Maccido, also told NAN that the State Government would set up a committee to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the fire.
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“The state government will also come to the aid of the victims, but the victims should regard the incident as an act of God,” he said.