Fire razed the popular Kantin-Kwari textile market in Kano on Saturday night, destroying goods and properties worth millions of naira.
The fire, which started in a building on Gidan Inuwa Mai Bayajidda Street, home to over 100 shops, quickly spread to at least 15 storefronts.
Witnesses described frantic efforts by shop owners to contain the flames before fire service operatives arrived.
Bashir Alhasan Hussaini, a shop owner, recounted the distressing moment when he and others rushed to salvage whatever they could from their shops.
“We were at home some minutes after 8pm when I received a call informing me of the fire. I and others tried to save our items, but some shops were destroyed before the fire extended to the ceiling,” he said.
Many traders suffered significant financial losses, with their livelihoods going up in flames.
Haruna Idris, another affected shop owner, lamented the loss and called for government support.
He appreciated the fire service and police for responding swiftly and preventing looting but stressed the need for better fire safety measures.
Speaking on behalf of the Kantin-Kwari Management Board, Anas Zango expressed concern over the lack of adequate fire safety protocols in the market.
“This incident is a reminder of the risks traders face. We believe we can improve fire safety measures to protect businesses and lives,” he said.
The Kano State Fire Service command identified the cause of the fire as a solar electricity fault.
Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, the command’s spokesman, explained that the fire, which began shortly after evening prayers, started from a solar system failure in one of the shops on Bayajidda Street.
Two shops were completely destroyed, while 13 others were partially affected, he added.
The Kantin Kwari Market Union, through its public relations officer, Anas Muhammad Zango, assured traders that proactive measures, including the removal of gas cylinders used by food vendors and relocation of generators, will be implemented to prevent future occurrence.
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