Locals Count Losses in the Wake of Fire Outbreak in Yobe Market in North East Nigeria
Nineteen shops and a mosque were gutted Sunday night during a devastating fire outbreak at the Leventis Market in Gashua, Yobe State, in North East Nigeria.
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8 Dec 2024
A fire outbreak broke out on Sunday night at the Leventis market located in Gashua local government area of Yobe State inNorth East Nigeria. By the time it was put out in the morning today, 19 shops, several other kiosks, and one mosque had been burnt down.
According to locals HumAngle interviewed, the fire outbreak, which began around midnight on Sunday, spread rapidly across the market, causing extensive property damage that left several traders shocked.
While no casualties were reported, locals at the scene associated the cause of the fire with a gas cylinder explosion. Witnesses told HumAngle that the scene was filled with fear and chaos as traders watched the fire engulf their properties and consume goods worth millions of naira.
Mohammed Musa Gasua, a resident from the community who visited the scene, said, “People are just recording their loss. It is really a disturbing calamity which calls for attention because local people depend on the market.”
In addition, more than 50 locals operating food-grinding businesses were also affected as the fire flames reached their section, destroying their grinding machines and other valuable equipment.
With the help of locals, firefighters deployed to the scene were able to contain the fire.
The tragic event has left many traders counting their losses. “I pray that the government will support them, and may God reciprocate their losses and protect us from future calamities,” Abdullahi Dauda, a local trader, said.
Halima Bashir Idris, 29, described the incident as “catastrophic” after she witnessed her family’s shop burnt down completely. Halima said the news about the fire outbreak came late, and they rushed to the scene at about 4 a.m. amid chaos and desperation to quench the fire and rescue goods.
“Our shop was burnt down completely before we reached the market. We lost everything, and our store was also burnt down with all the supplies we had that were worth millions of naira,” Halima said.
Halima’s family are deeply gutted as this business is their major source of income.
“We suspected the fire started due to the explosion of a gas cylinder from one of the shops that sells cooking gas in the market,” Halima told HumAngle.
HumAngle’s effort to reach the Yobe State’s police command to comment on the incident was unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
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