The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said a fire incident at the Karar Yan Katako market in Sokoto State on Tuesday destroyed at least 563 shops.
NEMA made it known on its X page this Thursday, saying that the fire, which raged for two days, was the second fire incident at the market in the last three weeks.
The agency said the fire affected shops that primarily dealt in wood, roofing materials, pipes, and fittings.
The statement read, “After a hard fight against the fire that lasted two days, the Sokoto State Fire Service eventually brought the blaze under control.
“This is the second time in January this year that the market has suffered a fire incident. The first occurred in the grinding machines section in the first week of January, while the second affected the wood and building materials section.
“The fire, which started at about 3:15 am on Tuesday, destroyed approximately 563 shops dealing in wood, roofing sheets, nails, toilet fittings, and pipes.”
Recall that on 5 January, 2025, a separate early-morning fire occurred at Sokoto’s popular Kara Grains Market, destroying grains and properties worth millions of naira.
It was reported that the fire destroyed over 50 grinding shops, with several nearby houses also affected.
Note that the cause of Tuesday’s fire has not been immediately determined, but it has resulted in significant financial losses, with damages estimated to exceed N50 million.