Fire engulfs Kano textile market, destroys goods worth millions

A fire ripped through the renowned Kantin Kwari textile market in Kano on Saturday night, destroying goods and property worth millions of naira. Shop owners battled to control the blaze, but their efforts proved futile as the fire raged through the market.

The incident left numerous traders facing devastating financial losses amid an already challenging economic climate. An eyewitness told The Guardian that the fire, suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault, wreaked havoc in the Gidan Inuwa section.

Shop owner Muhammed Inuwa reported that the fire broke out around 8:00 p.m., destroying numerous shops and stores filled with bales of textiles. Another trader, Yahaya Hotoro, estimated that almost 50 shops and stores were destroyed before fire service officials arrived. He claimed the total losses amounted to billions of naira.

The chairman of the market association, Alhaji Balarabe Tatari, described the disaster as colossal. He commended the swift response of the Kano State Fire Service, private companies, and support from neighbouring markets, which helped prevent the fire from spreading further.

Tatari also acknowledged the presence of personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, and other authorities who ensured security at the scene.

He expressed concern about the market’s congestion and inadequate access roads, which he believed contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. He urged the state government to clear obstructions hindering access and blocking drainage within the market.

Attempts to reach the spokesperson for the State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, for comment on the cause of the fire were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.