Traders in Dakata Quarters, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, were thrown into panic on Friday as fire engulfed the Fatima Simra Multi-Purpose Market.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the day, comes barely a week after another inferno at the popular Singer Market, where goods worth millions of naira were lost.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze gutted numerous shops, primarily occupied by small-scale operators involved in cooking oil production and the recycling of plastics and nylon materials.
Confirming the incident, Saminu Abdullahi, Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, said firefighters were on the scene working to bring the fire under control.
“Our personnel are still at the market trying to contain the fire. At this time, we cannot confirm the cause of the outbreak or the full extent of the damage,” Abdullahi stated.
The latest inferno comes just weeks after two devastating fires struck Singer Market in February, causing losses estimated in billions of naira.
During a visit to the affected traders, Governor Abba Yusuf donated N100 million to assist victims.
The Federal Government and the Progressive Governors Forum also contributed N8 billion to support traders and cushion the economic impact of the disaster.
Authorities have urged traders to exercise caution and comply with fire safety regulations as investigations into the cause of the latest fire continue.