A fire at the popular Singer Market in the historic city of Kano destroyed no fewer than 44 shops and valuable goods worth millions of Naira before it was brought under control by the State Fire Service.

According to a statement from the Service’s Public Relations Officer, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, the incident occurred around 5:00 a.m. when a distress call was received from Mubarak Muhammad, reporting the fire outbreak.

The Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Sani Anas, quickly mobilised firefighters from various stations across the Kano metropolis to the scene.

Upon their arrival, they found a one-story building, known as Alhaji Abdulmunafi Yunusa House, measuring approximately 150 by 150 feet, engulfed in flames.

The statement revealed that the fire destroyed 25 temporary shops at the front of the building and 19 stores on the upper floor. Firefighters successfully prevented the fire from spreading further, saving 24 other stores on the same floor and all the stores located on the ground floor.

The rescue operation faced challenges due to poor road access caused by trailers parked incorrectly around the area.

Following investigations, the Service determined that the likely cause of the fire was a faulty electrical connection related to the improper use of the central switch.

The fire is believed to have started from one of the temporary shops attached to the building.

The Kano State Fire Service reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents and business owners to ensure proper electrical installations and avoid overloading circuits to prevent similar incidents in the future. (Nigerian Tribune)