A devastating fire outbreak has destroyed a three-storey building and approximately 20 shops at Sabon Gari market in Kano State on Tuesday morning.

The inferno, which began around 11:40 a.m., caused significant property damage, though the full extent of losses is yet to be determined. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported as the affected shops were unoccupied at the time of the incident.

According to reports, the market spokesperson, Ado Haruna Muhammad, promptly alerted the Kano State Fire Service's market division, which responded immediately to contain the blaze.

Speaking to journalists after the fire was extinguished, Alhaji Abdul Bashir Hussien, a market official, confirmed that approximately 20 shops were consumed by the fire. He expressed gratitude to the firefighters for their swift response and to the Divisional Police Officer, Muhammad Abubakar, who remained on site with his team until the situation was brought under control.

Negligence Blamed for Fire Incident

Hussien criticized some traders for their negligence and actions that put the market at risk of fire outbreaks. He emphasized that the situation could have been much worse had the fire service not responded quickly.

"We thank Allah for granting a quick end to the fire," Hussien stated, adding that "it would have been disastrous" if the flames had spread to other sections of the busy commercial center.

The coordinated efforts of the fire service and local police prevented the fire from engulfing additional parts of the market, which houses numerous businesses and is a vital economic hub in the area.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the fire, and investigations are expected to continue as officials assess the full extent of the damage.

This incident highlights the ongoing concerns about fire safety measures in Nigerian markets, where closely packed stalls and buildings can allow fires to spread rapidly if not quickly contained.