Seven Missing as Fire Razes Singer Market, Destroys Goods Worth ₦5bn

A major fire outbreak has devastated the popular Singer Market in Kano State, destroying goods estimated at over ₦5 billion, affecting more than 1,000 businesses, and leaving seven persons missing.

Chairman of the market, Junaid Zakari, described the incident as one of the worst disasters in the market’s history. He said four residential buildings that housed small-scale businesses were completely razed.

“This is one of the darkest moments we have experienced in Singer Market. Properties worth over ₦5 billion have been lost,” he said, adding that traders’ goods and equipment were burnt beyond recovery, leaving hundreds of families’ livelihoods disrupted.

Zakari disclosed that seven persons had been declared missing as search efforts continued, noting that authorities were yet to confirm their status. Emergency responders and security agencies, he said, arrived promptly and are working to determine the cause of the blaze.

The fire reportedly broke out around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and burned late into the night, affecting sections including Gidan Gilas, where numerous shops were destroyed.

Governor Abba Yusuf visited the scene Saturday night to assess the damage and commended firefighters and security agencies for their response. He urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide modern firefighting equipment, including air support, to improve emergency response and prevent future incidents.

The latest blaze occurred less than two weeks after another fire swept through parts of the market on February 2, destroying goods worth billions of naira along Bello Road, including the Gidan Mazaf, Gidan Taki, and Gidan Katsinawa sections.

Political figures such as Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi had earlier visited the market to sympathise with victims and called for stronger investment in emergency response systems.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the latest fire, while the state government has pledged continued engagement with stakeholders to support affected traders and intensify fire-prevention campaigns across markets.