A late-night fire destroyed shops and affected six houses at Kofar Wanbai Market in Kano State on Friday, sending traders and residents fleeing in panic.
The blaze broke out around 9:43pm in the Babban Layi, Yan Robobi section of the market. The Kano State Fire Service said its control room received a distress call and immediately mobilised personnel from its headquarters and stations in Rijiyar Zaki, Sabon Gari, Government House, and Bompai.
On arrival, firefighters found a two-storey building measuring about 120 by 125 feet engulfed in flames. The structure, used for plastic trading and storage, housed two shops on the ground floor, two shops on the first floor, six stores, and four temporary stores on the upper floor.
Officials said the fire started on the upper floor before spreading to other sections of the building. Despite significant damage to the affected properties, firefighters managed to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further into the busy market.
