Sokoto Old Market gutted by fire

Goods worth millions of Naira were on Friday night destroyed by fire at a section of the Sokoto old market.

Dozens of shops containing assorted foodstuff, cooking oil, detergents and other household items were consumed by the inferno.

A similar incident occurred on July 24, 2016, at the textile section of the market.

The Head of Operations, Sokoto State Fire Service, Mr Mustapha Mohammed, said that ” the inferno started at around 9 pm yesterday night”.

“But we were able to put it out in about two and half hours, with the assistance of the affected traders and other good Samaritans.

“There was no loss of life. A fireman suffered a dislocation in his right leg but he is responding to treatment.

“The cause of the fire is not yet known, but, there was no public power supply when the inferno started.”

Mohammed stated that the department would conduct thorough investigations to unravel the cause of the fire incident.

A cross section of the affected traders told NAN that ”we have resigned our fate to God.”

Mohammad Chika, one of the affected traders, called for assistance to enable them recoups their loss.

“We are appealing for an urgent support from the state and Federal Government, as well as other well-meaning Nigerians,” he said.

The reconstruction work was still on-going at the site of the 2016 incidence with the affected traders still displaced.