A devastating fire has engulfed several shops at the renowned Kantin Kwari textile market in Kano State, leaving traders counting their losses.
The inferno, which eyewitnesses say started around 7 p.m. on Saturday, broke out at Gidan Inuwa Mai Mai on Bayajidda Street, rapidly spreading through numerous shops.
The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the fire, attributing it to an electrical fault. The fire, which destroyed textiles and other valuables worth billions of naira, left traders devastated.
Alhaji Yahaya Hotoro, one of the affected traders, revealed that over 50 shops and stores were completely destroyed before the fire service arrived at the scene.
“It was a devastating loss for many of us. I personally lost everything in my shop, and we could do nothing as the fire consumed everything in sight,” Hotoro lamented.
Another trader, Muhammed Inuwa, who also suffered huge losses, said he lost fabrics and other items of clothing worth millions of naira.
“The fire spread too fast, and before I could act, everything was already gone,” Inuwa added, visibly shaken by the incident.
The fire was eventually extinguished following swift interventions by the Kano State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, and reinforcements from private companies and markets in Sabon Gari, Dawanau, and Singa.
Balarabe Tatari, the Chairman of the Traders’ Association, confirmed the incident, noting that the timely response from firefighting teams prevented the situation from escalating.
“It would have been worse, but the quick actions of the fire service teams and reinforcements from nearby markets averted further destruction,” Tatari told reporters.
He also praised the efforts of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and other authorities for maintaining security during the incident.
However, he expressed concern over the market’s congestion and inadequate access roads, which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
“The state government should do everything possible to clear the obstructions that hinder movement and block drainage channels in the market,” Tatari urged.
