A fire broke out early Sunday at Kara Market, a busy timber and wood market in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, destroying shops and property.
The blaze quickly spread through the market’s timber section, causing losses worth millions of naira.
Eyewitnesses said the fire started shortly after dawn prayers and rapidly consumed parts of the market before firefighters arrived to control the situation.
“We just saw smoke everywhere, and before we knew it, the flames had engulfed most of the shops,” Musa Bello, a trader at the market, said.
Traders and residents were seen trying to salvage their goods amid the chaos, but the flames overwhelmed many structures. Fortunately, the incident did not claim any lives.
Abuzaid Yari, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, described the incident “an unfortunate incident” and conveyed the state government’s condolences to the affected traders. He said, “The government sympathises deeply with the victims and prays that Allah replenishes their losses.”
He also commended the Kebbi State Fire Service for their prompt response, stating, “We appreciate the swift action of the fire service, whose efforts prevented further damage.” Yari added that the government remained committed to “safeguarding the lives and property of its citizens.”
Firefighters arrived shortly after the fire began and managed to stop the flames from spreading to other parts of the market.
Following the incident, officials from the Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), led by Chairman Bello Yakubu Rilisco and Executive Director Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Tuleje, visited the market to assess the damage. They met with affected traders and inspected the burnt areas.
The visit followed a directive from Governor Nasir Idris, who called for immediate action to assist those affected by the fire.
SEMA officials said it is compiling a report to guide relief and rehabilitation efforts.
The cause of the fire remains unknown as investigations continue.
