By Aiyeku Timothy
An early morning mysterious fire razed parts of Shehu Shagari Modern Market in Sokoto, popularly called New Market on Tuesday.
The inferno reportedly started around 6 a.m. and continued to ravage shops at the market till midday, as some yet to be affected traders trooped to evacuate their goods before the raging fire reached their shops.
Efforts of the combined team of Sokoto State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to put out the fire lasted till midday on Tuesday.
Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and men of the Nigerian Police were also on hand to maintain safety and security.
It was gathered that attachment shops and other illegal structures erected at the market roads prevented fire engines good access to affected shops in the market.
Bulldozers were deployed to remove the temporary and illegal structures in order for fire engines and officials to gain more access.
The Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Manniru Dan’iya was at the scene to sympathised with the victims and assured them of more efforts to end the fire.
Dan’iya said the source of the incident and level of damage could not be ascertained at present and urged people to remain calm as the efforts continue.
Hundreds of millions are believed to have been lost in the incident as shop owners continue to count their losses.
A trader, Muhammad Bawa, said that he lost goods worth N2 million as he could not remove anything from his shop.
A year ago, a part of the old Sokoto Market was destroyed by a fire, which burnt down 20 shops.
