Fire destroys Kara market in Sokoto

Property estimated at hundreds of millions of naira have been destroyed by fire at the popular Kara market in Sokoto, Sokoto State.
Some of the items sold at the market included grains, onions, agricultural inputs, wheat offal, kola nuts, generators and spare parts.
The News Agency of Nigeria learnt that the fire started at about midnight on Tuesday.
It was said to have been ignited by an electrical spark at a shop opposite the Kofar-Kade gate.
There was, however, no loss of life or injury in the inferno.
The fire was still raging when NAN visited the scene at 6.30am on Wednesday.
Some of the traders were able to salvage some of their wares, while others were seen guarding their property against thieves.
Some traders told NAN that the spark was caused by the restoration of power supply.
A victim, Alhaji Musa Danhajiya, said: “There was no light at the market since 6pm on Tuesday.
“It was restored at about midnight.
“That was believed to be the genesis of the unfortunate fire incident.”
Another victim, Malam Yusuf Labbo, told NAN: “We have lost property worth hundreds of millions of naira and cash.
“The fire was put off by some good Samaritans and the victims and we are still guarding our salvaged items.”
The Secretary of the Kola Nuts Sellers Association in Sokoto State, Shina Agboola, told NAN that the fire had caused tremendous damage at the market.
Agboola said: “My association has over 108 members at the affected market and they had suffered huge losses.
“We are therefore appealing to the government to come to the aid of the victims.”
The Director-General, Sokoto State Fire Service, Alhaji Harande Chedi, confirmed the incident, saying no life was lost.
Chedi, however, said the service would investigate the allegation of restoration of electricity and power surge to ascertain the cause of the inferno.
On his part, the Director-General of the state Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Hassan Maccido, also told NAN that the State Government would set up a committee to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the fire.
“The state government will also come to the aid of the victims, but the victims should regard the incident as an act of God,” Maccido said.