Sokoto Fire: Aliyu Pledges Support for 76 Verified Victims

Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has pledged financial assistance to 76 verified victims of the July 2026 fire outbreaks at Sokoto Central Motor Park and the Old Market to help them recover their losses and resume business activities.

Aliyu gave the assurance on Saturday while receiving the report of a nine-member committee established by the state government to investigate the incidents, assess the extent of damage and recommend measures to prevent future occurrences.

The governor said the government would soon provide support to the affected traders to ease the hardship caused by the fire outbreaks.m

He, however, clarified that the assistance should not be considered compensation but a measure to alleviate the difficulties faced by the victims.

“As a government, we are deeply concerned about the way the two fire outbreaks have affected commercial activities and trade in our dear state.

“I want to assure you that we will soon provide assistance to enable you to resume your businesses,” Aliyu said.

He commended the affected traders for their patience and understanding, assuring the business community of his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for commercial activities to thrive.

The governor also praised the committee for its work, promising that the government would carefully study its recommendations.

Earlier, the committee chairman, Barrister Gandi Umar Muhammad, disclosed that the panel received claims from 94 persons who alleged that they were affected by the fire outbreaks.

However, following a verification exercise, only 76 claimants were confirmed as genuine victims, he said.

Muhammad explained that the committee visited the affected locations, interacted with victims, witnesses and other stakeholders, and conducted investigations into the incidents.

According to him, the report examined the immediate and remote causes of the fires, the losses suffered by traders and recommendations for preventing similar incidents.

The committee chairman also disclosed that the report contained recommendations concerning traders whose shops were affected but who managed to evacuate their goods and belongings before they were destroyed.

He said the committee recommended that such traders be commended for their honesty and responsible conduct.

The fire outbreaks, which occurred in July 2026, affected sections of Sokoto Central Motor Park and the Old Market, prompting the state government to establish the nine-member committee.

The committee is chaired by Muhammad, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal and Administration, and includes former Vice-Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Professor Aminu Salihu Mika’ilu, among its members.