KANO, Nigeria – A devastating fire outbreak on Friday afternoon razed dozens of shops at the popular Farm Centre GSM Market in Kano, with authorities attributing the cause to a battery explosion.
According to a statement by the Kano State Fire Service, the inferno erupted around 12:32 p.m. and quickly engulfed parts of the bustling market. The alert was raised by Senior Fire Superintendent (SFS) Musa Ya’u, prompting an immediate emergency response.
Under the directive of the Fire Service Director, Alhaji Sani Anas, firefighters from across the Kano metropolis were mobilized to battle the flames.
“The fire originated from the ground floor of a one-storey building, consuming 20 permanent shops and 13 temporary ones,” said ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, the service’s Public Relations Officer. “It then spread to the upper floor, destroying an additional 13 shops and one temporary structure.”
In total, 47 shops were affected by the blaze.
Despite the intensity of the fire, officials confirmed that there were no casualties or injuries. The swift response of fire personnel was credited with preventing further destruction.
“By God’s intervention and the effort of our men, we were able to contain the fire using five jets,” Abdullahi noted.
The Fire Service has since issued a safety advisory, urging traders and residents to exercise caution when handling batteries and electrical devices to prevent similar incidents.
The Farm Centre GSM Market is one of Kano’s largest hubs for mobile phones and electronics, making the loss a significant economic blow to affected traders.
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