A midnight fire has gutted Fika Central Market in Fika Local Council of Yobe State, destroying goods worth millions of naira and dozens of shops.
Local authorities said the blaze also damaged market infrastructure and disrupted the livelihoods of traders, including market women and butchers.
Confirming the incident yesterday in Damaturu, the Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Mohammed Goje, said the fire destroyed shops, stalls and slaughter slabs, disrupting commercial activities in the area.
Goje said personnel of the Fire Service and SEMA’s rescue team were deployed to contain the blaze and prevent further damage to lives and property.
He noted that the council’s firefighting trucks and equipment were outdated, which hampered efforts to extinguish the fire.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with thick plumes of smoke reducing visibility across the market.
The executive secretary and Fika local authorities expressed sympathy with the victims.
A government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the state would provide support within available resources.
The incident, which occurred during the harmattan season, has renewed concerns over the recurring spate of fire outbreaks in the state.
Officials at the state and council levels have called for an urgent assessment of the damage by SEMA and immediate assistance for the affected traders.
Goje urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report emergencies to SEMA and the State Fire Service.
