Fire destroys 25 shops at Gombe Main Market

According to eyewitnesses’ account, the inferno, which started around 1:45 am. on Wednesday, lasted for four hours and completely destroyed more than 25 shops, affecting the livelihood of over 300 people.

Speaking to Daily Trust, Chairman of the market traders’ association, Alhaji Uba Abdullahi, attributed the inferno to electrical fault when electricity supply was restored to the market. He said, according to rough estimate, property worth over N50 million were lost to the inferno.

Uba Abdullahi added that the inferno affected tailors, dealers of plastic items and hides and skin traders among others. The chairman, therefore, called on the marketers to always switch off their electrical appliances after closing from the market to avoid such unfortunate incidents.

“We are lacking proper street layout in the market which made it difficult to get easy access to the shops during emergency like fire outbreak. As such, because of lack of proper planning, people were watching helplessly while their shops were being razed by the fire,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Alhaji Mohammed Malala, who visited the scene, sympathised with the marketers and promised to forward the matter to the government for appropriate action.

Credit: Daily Trust