Governor donates ₦100 million to dealers to help them to rebuild their shops so that they can start trading again soon
At least 30 shops were burnt to ashes and goods worth an estimated ₦150 million were destroyed in a raging fire that broke out at the Kasuwar Bayan Tasha market in Damaturu in Yobe State on Tuesday.
The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). market is one of the biggest in the state. Its core business is selling mobile phones and accessories. Consumers also go there to sell and exchange their phones.
Mai Mala Buni, the governor of Yobe State, commiserated with the shop owners and expressed deep concern about the “tragic incident”. He donated ₦100 million to those affected, saying he hoped they would be able rebuild their shops and start trading again soon.
Early on Tuesday, January 23, firefighters, traders and good Samaritans rushed to the scene to try to extinguish the blaze.
Witnesses said the two fire trucks sent to put out the fire ran out of water but that by then the blaze had been doused.
Mohammed Muktar, the chairman of the Marketers’ Association in Yobe State, told RNI that the blaze, which ripped through at least 30 shops destroying goods worth millions, was caused by an electrical fault.
“What happened is really tragic but the people should take heart and consider it as their fate and also that it was ordained by the Almighty. No being could have changed or stopped it from happening.
“We woke up to news about the fire on Tuesday. We rushed to the market and all we could see were huge flames. But all we can do now is thank the Almighty for what happened and be grateful that no lives were lost.
“Whatever was lost was acquired here on earth and, by the grace of God, where there is life there surely is hope and we will acquire even more if that is Allah’s will.”
Adamu Musa, a trader at the market, said: “We really lost a lot in the outbreak but what can we do other than to thank the Almighty for protecting us. There were no injuries or casualties. May the Almighty replenish what we lost in abundance.
“I was on my way back from Fajr prayers when I got a phone call. The frantic caller told me that our shops were on fire. When I arrived at my shop, I was met at the door by good Samaritans who had got inside and managed to save some of my stock.
“I can’t thank the good people enough for their immense help.”
Suleiman Inuwa, an elderly man whose shop was also razed, said: “While I was saying my morning prayers in the mosque, I heard screams. People were shouting that there was a fire at the GSM market. I was not even able to finish my supplications. I rushed to the market to see what was happening.
“The fire started at shop number seven. People had opened the doors to try to stop the fire from spreading. But it was too late and other shops went up in flames too. It was a terrifying sight. It was as if the fire was engulfing the whole market. The fire was blazing and you could see the flames ripping and raging through the shops.
“Firefighters were struggling to get the pump on one of the fire trucks to work. After a while the two fire service trucks that came to our rescue ran out of water. Luckily, by then the fire had died down. About 30 shops were burnt to ashes. We are all grateful to the firefighters – if it weren’t for them the fire would have razed the whole market.”
AYSHA MUSTAPHA KOLOMI
