Firefighters work at the site of a recyclable materials warehouse hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine April 16, 2026
A late-night fire has destroyed shops and affected six houses at Kofar Wanbai Market in Kano State.
The inferno reportedly broke out around 9:43pm on Friday at the Babban Layi, Yan Robobi section of the market, sending traders and residents into panic.
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The Kano State Fire Service said its control room received a distress call about the incident and immediately mobilised personnel from its headquarters and stations in Rijiyar Zaki, Sabon Gari, Government House and Bompai to the scene.
Firefighters on arrival found a two-storey building, measuring about 120 by 125 feet, engulfed in flames.
The building was reportedly being used for plastic trading and storage.
The fire affected two shops on the ground floor, two shops on the first floor, six stores and four temporary stores located on the upper floor.
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The Fire Service said the blaze started on the upper floor before spreading to other sections of the building.
Although the inferno caused significant damage to the affected properties, firefighters were able to contain it and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the busy market.
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The agency identified a solar system as the suspected cause of the fire.
Among the affected properties were Gidan Alhaji Sani, Gidan Sani Muhammad, Gidan Alhaji Kwa Kwa, Gidan Alhaji Shafi’u and Gidan Alhaji Sulaiman.
Following the incident, the Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Sani Anas, urged traders and residents to strengthen their fire-safety measures.
He advised business owners and residents to install fire detectors, keep functional fire extinguishers within reach and comply with established fire-safety regulations.
The incident has once again raised concerns about fire risks in densely populated commercial areas, where a single electrical fault or equipment failure can quickly escalate into a major disaster.
While firefighters succeeded in stopping the flames from spreading further, the affected traders and residents are now left to assess the extent of their losses.
