Sokoto Market Fire Leaves 200 Traders Counting Over N600m Losses

By Fahad Faruk Galadanchi

At least 200 traders affected by the fire that gutted part of Sokoto Central Market have put their combined losses at more than N600 million, appealing to the government for urgent assistance.

The fire broke out at about 7:30 p.m on Sunday, destroying shops and containers in the section of the market where Islamic books, Islamic medicine, provisions, footwear and clothing materials were sold.

Chairman of the Islamic Books and Medicine Sellers Association, Alhaji Manniru Adamu, disclosed the extent of the losses in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday.

Adamu said the affected traders had lost their goods and major investments, leaving many of them unable to restart their businesses.

He lamented that “We have lost everything to the fire, and we are appealing to the state and federal governments to urgently come to our aid. This is to enable us to bounce back and continue with our businesses.

He praised the Sokoto State Fire Service, fellow traders and other members of the public for their efforts in containing the blaze, which continued until the early hours of Monday.

The association chairman further urged the Sokoto State Government to approve the construction of permanent shops for the affected traders to replace the temporary structures and containers destroyed in the incident.

Another victim, Nata’ala Abbas Babi said eight of his siblings were among those affected by the fire.

Babi appealed for immediate government intervention, saying assistance would help the victims return to their businesses.

He also proposed that the government allocate shops to the affected traders in a section of the market previously destroyed by fire and reconstructed under the current administration.

“These shops were razed in another separate inferno during the last administration and have been fully reconstructed by the current administration. Therefore, allocating these shops to us will really help in re-energising our businesses” he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of Administration of Sokoto Central Market, Alhaji Kabiru Danmallam, confirmed that the incident had been reported to the state government.

“Yes, it is true, and we have duly reported the incident to the state government. We are awaiting its further actions” Danmallam told NAN on Tuesday.