A devastating fire has razed scores of shops at the Fatima Simra Multi-Purpose Market in Kano State, marking yet another tragic blow to the state’s commercial community.
The inferno, which broke out at about 5:50 a.m. on Friday, engulfed the market located within the Dakata Small Scale and Industry Multi-Purpose Market.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, said firefighters were swiftly deployed to the scene and were still battling to contain the flames as of the time of reporting.
He added that the full extent of the damage has yet to be determined, as investigations will commence once the fire is completely extinguished.
Preliminary reports indicate that no fewer than 50 shops were destroyed. Many of the affected businesses were engaged in oil production as well as nylon and plastic recycling—sectors that serve as vital sources of livelihood for numerous families.
The latest tragedy comes barely six days after a massive inferno tore through the renowned Singer Market, destroying more than 1,000 shops and businesses. Properties estimated to be worth over ₦5 billion were lost in that incident, with several persons reported missing.
Describing the Singer Market blaze as one of the darkest chapters in the market’s history, the chairman, Junaid Zakari, lamented the enormous human and economic toll.
According to him, four residential buildings housing small-scale enterprises were completely gutted.
“This is one of the darkest moments we have experienced in Singer Market,” Zakari said. “Properties worth over ₦5 billion have been lost. More than 1,000 shops and businesses have been affected, and the livelihoods of hundreds of families have been crippled.”
He appealed to the government, corporate organisations, and well-meaning individuals to support the affected traders in rebuilding their lives and businesses.
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, later visited Singer Market to assess the devastation firsthand. He commended security agencies and firefighters for their swift response and called on the Federal Government to provide modern firefighting equipment to strengthen emergency response efforts and prevent future occurrences.
Singer Market remains one of the major commercial hubs in Kano and the wider North-West region.
As traders count their losses, the twin market disasters have underscored the urgent need for improved fire safety infrastructure and coordinated emergency preparedness across the state’s bustling commercial centres.
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