A devastating fire outbreak has ravaged the Kara Timber Market in Birnin Kebbi, destroying numerous shops and goods valued at millions of naira in the early hours of Sunday.

The inferno, which reportedly began shortly after the dawn (Subhi) prayer, quickly spread through the timber section of the market, reducing structures and merchandise to ashes before emergency responders could bring it under control.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire started suddenly and spread with alarming speed due to the highly combustible nature of timber and other flammable materials stored throughout the market. Local traders and residents were seen making desperate attempts to salvage whatever goods they could before the arrival of firefighters.

Traders Count Their Losses

Alhaji Musa Dandago, one of the affected traders, expressed his anguish over the incident. "I have lost everything. All the wood and machinery I stored here are gone. This is our livelihood, and many of us have nowhere to start again," he lamented tearfully.

While no casualties were reported in the incident, the scale of destruction has left many families in distress, with numerous traders now calling on the government and well-meaning individuals to provide urgent support and relief.

Emergency Response

Personnel from the Kebbi State Fire Service arrived at the scene shortly after the fire broke out and worked diligently to contain the blaze, successfully preventing it from spreading to other sections of the market.

This incident adds to a concerning pattern of market fires across Nigeria, which continue to pose significant threats to the livelihoods of small business owners and traders.

Local authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, and investigations are expected to commence soon.

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