KANO, NIGERIA — A devastating late-night fire has destroyed six houses, multiple shops, and storage facilities at the Kofar Wanbai Market in Kano State, with authorities tracing the cause to a faulty solar power system .
The inferno erupted around 9:43 p.m. on Friday at the Babban Layi, Yan Robobi section of the busy commercial hub, sending traders and residents into a panic . The Kano State Fire Service received a distress call from Principal Fire Superintendent Usman Idris Fagge and immediately mobilised firefighters from the state headquarters and stations at Rijiyar Zaki, Sabon Gari, Government House and Bompai to the scene .
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a two-storey building, measuring approximately 120 by 125 feet, engulfed in flames. The building, which housed plastic shops and storage facilities, suffered extensive damage . The affected properties included Gidan Alhaji Sani, Gidan Sani Muhammad, Gidan Alhaji Kwa Kwa, Gidan Alhaji Shafi’u and Gidan Alhaji Sulaiman .
The fire service confirmed that the blaze destroyed two shops on the ground floor, two on the first floor, six stores, and four temporary storage units on the upper floor . Investigators established that the fire originated on the upper floor before cascading downward to the lower levels . Swift intervention by firefighters successfully contained the inferno, preventing it from sweeping across adjacent sections of the bustling commercial district .
The Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, ACFO Saminu Abdullahi, confirmed that the cause of the fire was traced to a solar system installed in the building . The incident has reignited concerns about fire risks in densely populated commercial areas, where a single electrical fault or equipment failure can quickly escalate into a major disaster .
Reacting to the incident, the Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Sani Anas, appealed to traders and residents to exercise heightened caution regarding electrical installations and alternative energy systems . He strongly advocated for the mandatory installation of fire detectors and the placement of functional fire extinguishers within residential and commercial properties to safeguard lives and assets .
“We urge members of the public and traders to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to reduce the incidence of fire outbreaks,” Anas said . “Ensure that appropriate fire-safety measures are observed at all times.”
This incident adds to growing concerns over market fire outbreaks in Kano, where traders have repeatedly suffered losses from similar disasters. This year alone, the state has recorded about five market fire incidents, with Singer, Kano’s popular commodity hub, experiencing two outbreaks . While firefighters succeeded in stopping the flames from spreading further, affected traders and residents are now left to assess the extent of their losses .
