Millions gone as fire razes Gamboru Market in Maiduguri

Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed yesterday when fire razed a section of Gamboru Market in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Some traders in the market told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fire started at 3 am when there was nobody in the market.

Malam Mohammed Ibrahim, a leader in the market, said he noticed thick smoke at the market during early morning prayers around 5am.

He said: “We were at the mosque praying when we saw thick smoke coming from the market.

“But we could not get to the market due to the prevailing curfew in the state,” he said.

He added that when the traders eventually got to the market in the morning, they discovered that the fire destroyed several shops and goods worth millions of naira.

“Nobody can say specifically the source of the fire, but some traders leaving nearby said it started around 3 am,” Ibrahim said.

Another trader, Malam Usman Kachalla, urged  the state government to come assist the government in rebuilding their shops.

A NAN correspondent, who visited the market yesterday, reports that many traders were salvaging remains of their wares, while others stood by and lamented the situation.

The market was gutted by fire in 2009 and 2011.