The popular Abubakar Gumi central market in Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna State, yesterday went up in flames, destroying over 100 shops and property worth over N100 million.
The fire, which affected the yan manja (red oil) section of the market, however, was brought under control after several hours of effort by the Kaduna State Emergency Fire Service with assistance of security operatives, who were there to forestall hoodlums from taking advantage of the situation.
The fire, which affected the yan manja (red oil) section of the market, however, was brought under control after several hours of effort by the Kaduna State Emergency Fire Service with assistance of security operatives, who were there to forestall hoodlums from taking advantage of the situation.
Efforts to speak to some of the victims of the fire failed as they were all seen wailing and some even fainted and had to be resuscitated by sympathisers.
The Chairman, Kaduna State Trader’s Association, Alhaji Adamu Usman Maishinkafa, who spoke to reporters on behalf of the victims, lamented the re-occurrence of the incident in the market, describing the incident as a shock and unfortunate.
Maishinka said he suspected the cause of the incident to have come from a PHCN wire that used to spark frequently from a pole inside the market.
“ This problem has been reported continuously to the PHCN authority and no action was taken to rectify the problem,” the chairman lamented.
When Daily Sun spoke to the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Market Development and Management Company Limited, Ambassador Sule Buba, who was there to inspect and have a first hand assessment of the extent of damage, he described the incident as unfortunate and pitiable.
“We commend the Kaduna State Emergency Fire Services and security operatives for their quick intervention, even though the fire started in the early hours and before their arrival a lot of damage had been done.
“All efforts are now geared towards rehabilitating those that were affected and we will make sure that they get succour from us very soon,” he promised.
Buba, however, said the course of the fire outbreak could not be ascertained immediately but would certainly make necessary efforts to get to the root of the incident to prevent future occurrence.
Buba, however, said the course of the fire outbreak could not be ascertained immediately but would certainly make necessary efforts to get to the root of the incident to prevent future occurrence.
Daily Sun also spoke with the North-west Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Mustapha Suleiman, who also described the incident as an inferno, saying the fire raged for hours but eventually brought under control. He promised that a committee would be set up immediately to ascertain the extent of damage and give an assessment report...
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