No fewer than 12 shops have been destroyed by fire in Wunti, Bauchi Main market.
The inferno which started at about 11:30pm and lasted for about 4 hours on Thursday completely destroyed the 12 shops.
Ibrahim Abdullahi popularly called Golden Boy who repairs phone at the market told journalists that “I received a call from my friend at about 11:30pm informing me that there is an inferno in the market and my shop was completely razed down.”
Ibrahim who valued his loss at N2 million attributed the inferno to electrical fault.
A tailor who was also affected by the fire disaster in the market, Abdulrahman Mohammed said two of his sewing machines and customers’ clothes worth N900, 000 were lost in the inferno.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the market traders’ association, Iliyasu Nuhu Abdullahi attributed the fire disaster to an electrical fault, confirming that 12 shops were affected.
He disclosed that the association was making efforts to ascertain the magnitude of the damage to enable them value the worth of property destroyed.
Ilyasu also cautioned traders to avoid dual connections and illegal tapings of light from illegal sources, which he said was disastrous for them.
The state Governor, Bala Mohammed who visited the scene of the inferno to commiserate with the affected persons expressed shock over the incident.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Baba Tela, Governor Bala who assured the victims of immediate government’s support said already, the State Emergency Management Agency has commenced assessment on the damages in order to provide the basic assistance.
On his part, the training officer, State Emergency Management Agency, Adamu Nayola who spoke on behalf of the permanent secretary, SEMA said that the victims will be assisted as soon as assessment on the magnitude of the inferno is completed.
