Early Morning Inferno Razes 50 Shops at Kwalemar Fatima Simra Market in Kano

An early morning fire on Friday gutted no fewer than 50 shops at the Kwalemar Fatima Simra Market in Dakata, Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano State, triggering widespread panic among traders and residents.

The blaze, which reportedly started in the early hours of the day, spread rapidly through sections of the bustling market, destroying goods and property worth millions of naira. Eyewitnesses said thick plumes of smoke could be seen from several kilometres away as shop owners scrambled to salvage their wares.

The latest incident comes barely days after a mysterious inferno raged for more than 48 hours at the popular Singer Market, where traders dealing in essential commodities suffered heavy losses.

The recurrence of fire outbreaks has heightened anxiety among business owners across the state, many of whom fear for the safety of their investments.
Confirming the development, Chairman of the market’s Fire Committee, Dauda Haruna, disclosed that about 50 shops had already been destroyed as at the time he spoke, with the fire still spreading to adjoining stalls.

“As of now, we have counted about 50 shops that have been completely razed. The fire is still ongoing, and there are fears that more shops could be affected if urgent measures are not taken,” Haruna said.

He explained that most of the affected shops were small-scale enterprises engaged in peanut oil refining, as well as the recycling of plastic and rubber materials—businesses that involve highly flammable substances.

Haruna added that the market leadership promptly alerted relevant emergency agencies immediately the fire was noticed, leading to the deployment of firefighters to the scene.

Spokesperson of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif, confirmed the incident and said officials were working to contain the blaze and assess the extent of the destruction.

“We are currently compiling details to ascertain the level of damage and the losses incurred so far,” Yusif stated.

As of press time, no casualties had been officially confirmed. However, traders expressed deep concern over the increasing frequency of market fires in the state, calling on authorities to intensify safety inspections and improve emergency response mechanisms to prevent future occurrences.

Residents of Dakata and surrounding communities also appealed to the government to investigate the causes of the recurring infernos and provide relief support to affected traders.