Kano is tallying losses after a devastating early-morning fire razed 110 shops at the popular Kofar Ruwa Timber Market in Kano metropolis.
The inferno which broke out at about 7:39 a.m. on the weekend destroyed 75 permanent buildings and 35 temporary structures leaving traders with losses running into millions of naira.
The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement from its Public Relations Officer Kabiru Isah Jafaru.
Jafaru said the Service received a distress call from a timber dealer Alhaji Abba and immediately deployed firefighters from various stations across the metropolis.
‘On arrival the teams discovered that the fire had engulfed several sections of the market affecting 110 structures.
‘By the grace of Almighty Allah our team successfully brought the fire under control and prevented it from spreading to other sections’ he said.
He said no casualties were recorded while the cause of the fire and the estimated value of property destroyed are yet to be ascertained.
The Director of the Service Alhaji Sani Anas urged traders and business owners to be more vigilant and adopt fire-prevention measures especially as the harmattan season sets in when dry conditions heighten fire risks.
The Kofar Ruwa fire is the latest in a series of market fires recorded in Kano this year raising fresh concerns over safety measures in commercial centres.