A sudden fire outbreak before dawn on Monday threw traders into panic at Singa Market in Kano, leaving several shop owners counting losses as goods and stalls were destroyed before business hours.
The blaze reportedly started in the early morning and swept through parts of the market, forcing nearby occupants and security guards to raise the alarm. Firefighters were later drafted in to battle the flames and stop them from reaching more crowded sections of the trading hub.
Officials of the Kano State Fire Service confirmed they received an emergency call at about 3:16 a.m. and immediately mobilised response teams to the location. Spokesman Saminu Yusif said crews remained on ground for hours carrying out containment and cooling operations, with some areas still smoking as at mid-morning. He said a detailed report will be released after assessment.
Some affected traders who arrived after daybreak described the scene as devastating.
“I just opened my shop last week after restocking. Everything inside is gone,” one clothing dealer said. “We depend on daily sales — this loss is too heavy.”
Another trader dealing in household goods said, “If the fire had started during the day, it could have been worse because this place is always crowded. But now many of us have lost our means of livelihood.”
Authorities are yet to state the cause of the fire or estimate the total value of goods destroyed.
The incident adds to recent fire emergencies recorded in markets and residential areas across the country. Just days earlier, a residential building fire in Onitsha claimed the life of an elderly woman and destroyed multiple apartments after flames spread for hours before being fully contained.
