Properties valued at billions of naira have been lost across Yobe, Kwara, and Taraba states due to a devastating fire that engulfed a market, numerous shops, and a lounge. In Yobe State, the impact was particularly severe, with at least 200 individuals losing their means of livelihood when a fire destroyed 46 shops at Bayan Tasha Market in the Damaturu Local Government Area.
The inferno ignited around 2:30 am and quickly spread, affecting several shops before the state fire service could arrive to extinguish the flames. Reports indicate that the limited access roads within the market significantly hindered rescue efforts prior to the firefighters’ arrival, complicating the situation further.
Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Hon Idi Barde Gubana, visited the site of the fire and identified the cause as an electrical fault. He stated, “Preliminary investigations suggest that this incident was due to an electrical fault. A total of 46 shops were burned, including 38 permanent and 8 temporary shops, leaving over 200 people without their means of income.”
Fortunately, Gubana confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident. Governor Mai Mala Buni has directed him and other relevant stakeholders to conduct a thorough assessment of the losses incurred by each individual affected by the fire. The government is committed to taking necessary actions to assist those impacted.
In another incident at Ita Amodu market on Old Yidi Road in Ilọrin, properties worth millions of naira were destroyed. This fire, which occurred on Tuesday, severely affected residents and traders involved in the sale of mattresses, carpets, gum, and various other materials.
Hassan Adekunle, the public relations officer of the state fire service, reported that they encountered a massive blaze upon arrival, which originated from a lorry overloaded with mattresses. The fire not only destroyed the lorry but also spread to a nearby building that housed 47 rooms and 19 shops.
Despite the intensity of the flames, Adekunle noted that their swift response helped to save 12 shops and 31 rooms, although 7 shops and 16 rooms were regrettably lost. He explained that investigations revealed the fire started when the overloaded lorry collided with a high-tension wire, creating a spark that ignited the mattresses.
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In Taraba State, properties worth over a billion naira were reportedly destroyed during a fire incident at Duchess Lounge, located opposite Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo. While the exact cause of the fire remains uncertain, eyewitnesses suggested that it may have been triggered by a sudden power surge, worsened by the harmattan winds.
The entire first floor of the lounge, which included the general club, VIP, and VVIP sections, was consumed by the flames. Professor Joseph Albasu Kunini, the owner of the lounge, shared with our correspondent that the venue had recently undergone extensive renovations in preparation for its third anniversary, scheduled for December 30th.
