Hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers, in the wee hours of Wednesday set ablaze the tailoring section of the Gombe old market after looting items worth millions of naira.
The hoodlums were believed to have set the market ablaze after carting away sewing and design machines, yards and wrappers and other items estimated at over N70 million belonging to the tailors.
One of the victims, Aminu Abdulrahman, said he received a call around 1:00 am that his shop was on fire.
He said by the time he arrived the shop, his 10 sewing machines and other items worth about N2.5 million had been burnt.
According to him, the fire started from the tailoring section of the market, engulfing about 20 shops, saying items worths million of naira were lost.
Malam Sani Idris, another victim of the incident, told newsmen that he lost five sewing and weavings machines, and other items, estimated at about N800,000.
He appealed to the state government and other well meaning individuals to come to their aid.
When contacted, Mahid Mu’azu Abubakar, Spokesperson of Gombe Police Command, said the hoodlums set the market ablaze after carting away with items in the shops, saying timely arrival of police at the scene prevented further looting.
“After the hoodlums have stolen properties at the shops, they set them ablaze. The nature of the fire and items missing there indicated that it was an act of robbery.
“Timely presence of police at the scene prevented further looting while the shops were on fire. But what the police is investigating now is the case of armed robbery in the market before setting the place ablaze.
“More than 18 tailoring shops were affected and at least 10 shops were looted by the hoodlums where they carted away sewing and design machines before they set the shops on fire. Presently, investigations are on to apprehend the culprits,” said Mahid
