A devastating early morning fire has razed at least 50 shops at the Fatima Simra Multi-Purpose Market in Dakata, Kano State, leaving traders stunned and counting their losses.
The blaze reportedly started around 5:40 a.m. on Friday, engulfing a section of the bustling market that hosts small-scale industrial and recycling businesses.
Chairman of the market’s fire committee, Dauda Haruna Chula,
described the situation as alarming, noting that flames continued to rage hours after the outbreak.
“From the preliminary assessment, about 50 shops have already been destroyed, and the fire is still ongoing. We are still awaiting the arrival of the Kano State Fire Service,” Chula said.
Most of the affected shops specialized in oil production and the recycling of plastics and nylon materials—highly flammable goods that likely accelerated the fire’s spread. Thick smoke filled the early morning sky as traders and residents rushed to salvage merchandise and prevent the flames from reaching other sections of the market.
Market officials immediately alerted the Kano State Fire Service and relevant emergency agencies. “We did as much as we could to call them and inform them of the situation. I can hear their sirens approaching,” Chula added, expressing cautious relief.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, and it remains unclear whether there were any casualties.
Some traders, however, expressed concern over what they described as a delayed response, warning that more shops could be lost if the fire is not quickly contained.
This latest disaster comes barely a week after a major inferno destroyed the popular Singer Market in Kano, reportedly affecting over 1,000 traders and causing massive economic losses—raising fears of a worsening pattern of market fires in the city.
Authorities have yet to comment on possible causes or preventive measures, leaving residents and traders calling for urgent safety interventions to prevent future tragedies.