Fire engulfs Kurmi Market in Kano

Exactly two months after a night fire destroyed goods worth over N3 million at the historic Kurmi market in Kano, another mysterious fire, on Tuesday night, ravaged the ancient market destroying goods worth several millions of Naira.

 

The AUTHORITY gathered that the inferno which broke out at about 11:30 pm, destroyed over 30 shops where mats, arti­facts and other locally made crafts were sold.

 

The Kano state Director of Fire Service, Alhaji Mustapha Rilwan, confirmed the incident, saying that his office received dis­tress calls and was able to put the fire under control at about 1.00 a.m. Wednesday.

 

“We were lucky to have con­tained the inferno within a short time of our arrival at the scene of the incident. We are still try­ing to confirm the actual number of shops affected, as the incident happened in the night,” he stated.

 

He further stated that the source of the fire could not be as­certained as at press time, while cautioning people to always take precautionary measures to avert future occurrence.

 

However, according to eye­witness account, the fire razed no fewer than 30 shops in the market.

 

The AUTHORITY recalls that in February, a mysterious fire, also on a Tuesday night gutted the an­cient Kurmi market destroying goods worth about N3 million.

 

Though, no life was lost to the inferno, traders in the over 500-years old market counted their losses as many shops were affected.

 

Unconfirmed reports indicat­ed that the fire must have emanat­ed from electrical fault though the authorities could not confirm it.

 

It was also gathered that only two shops were affected by the in­ferno which broke out when the traders had finished the business of the day. Goods sold in the af­fected shop were mostly costume for Horses.

 

The AUTHORITY reports that Kurmi market is the old­est market in the ancient city of Kano. It is a large market found­ed in the 15th century by the leg­endary Sarki Kano, Muhammad Rumfa. Assorted goods, includ­ing horse wears are sold in the market.