Sokoto govt sympathises with 318 victims of Kara market fire

Sokoto State Government has pledged to provide emergency assistance to victims a fire incident at Kara Market in the state in which 318 shops were razed.

The state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, gave the promise shortly after he visited the scene of the fire.

Tambuwal, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Mannir Daniya, also promised to allow the traders to continue with their business activities in the market pending the overhaul of the market.

Goods and property worth hundreds of millions of naira were consumed by the fire that razed the popular Kara Market in Sokoto on Tuesday and brought the fortunes of the traders and homeowners into ruins.

Some of the major items of trade in the popular market are grains, onions, agricultural inputs, kolanut, wheat, generators and spare parts.

According to an eyewitness, the fire was ignited by an electrical spark at a shop opposite Kofar Kade Gate.

The witness said that some of the traders were able to salvage some of their wares before the fire swept through the market, while others put up a strong fight with looters who took advantage of the incident to loot wares, cash and other valuables of the victims.

Some traders said the fire incident was caused by the restoration of power supply in the early hours of the day.

They said an electric spark was the genesis of the fire incident.

Secretary of the Kolanut Traders Association, Mr. Shina Abula, said the fire which has left the traders devastated as it caused tremendous damage to market stalls, started midnight on Tuesday.

 

Director General of the State Fire Service, Alhaji Muhammad Shehu, who confirmed the incident said, however, that no life was lost.

Shehu said the service would investigate the alleged sudden restoration of electricity to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the inferno.