A massive fire broke out in the early hours of Monday at the Katsina-Ala Main Market, destroying several shops and goods worth millions of naira.
The inferno, which reportedly began around midnight, raged for hours before firefighters and local residents managed to put it out.
Eyewitness Deborah Iyhotum told Brothers FM that the fire started in one part of the market and quickly spread to other sections due to the closely packed stalls and the presence of easily combustible materials.
“Within minutes, the whole market was on fire. The firefighters arrived promptly, but the flames had already consumed most of the shops. Many traders could only watch helplessly as their goods went up in smoke,” she recounted.
Despite the joint efforts of emergency responders and locals, a large portion of the market was completely destroyed. Many traders reportedly lost both goods and cash stored in their shops.
The cause of the fire remains unknown at the time of this report, but authorities have launched an investigation to determine what triggered the incident.