A raging fire tore through the Dakata scrap market in Kano State on Tuesday night, March 18, 2025, leaving billions of naira worth of goods and property reduced to ashes. The inferno, which started from electric sparks on a power line, spread rapidly, consuming shops and a groundnut processing factory, as desperate traders watched their livelihoods vanish.
Massive Losses, Emergency Response
The Kano State Police Command, through its spokesperson SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the incident, stating that while no casualties were recorded, the financial toll was devastating.
The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, described the disaster as one of the worst market fires in recent times, vowing a full investigation to prevent future occurrences. He commended the swift action of firefighters and local residents in battling the flames before it spread to other parts of the market.
Looting Amid the Chaos
As panic gripped traders, a suspected looter attempted to steal goods from the burning market but was swiftly arrested by security operatives. Authorities warned against criminal exploitation of tragedies, stating that security measures around the market would be intensified.
Eyewitness Accounts & Calls for Support
Traders lamented their irreplaceable losses, calling for government intervention and compensation. “Everything I have worked for is gone. I don’t know how I will recover,” one distraught business owner said.
Authorities are urging market traders and residents to adhere to strict fire safety regulations, as Kano has witnessed multiple fire outbreaks in recent years, often due to electrical faults and poor safety measures.
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