Inferno destroys Gusau vegetable market

About half the Gusau vegetable market in Zamfara State has been destroyed by a fire outbreak.

Alhaji Mu’azu, a source, said the incident occurred around 10pm and it was suspected to have been caused by an electric surge.

Mu’azu said though they called the state firefighters, they refused to turn up on time.

Another fire destroyed another private store in the same night at Unguwar Gwaza, Gusau.

Executive Secretary, Zamfara State fire Service, Bello Sani said their personnel responded on time and they sent fire trucks but that the market was built with highly inflammable items that could not be put under control easily.

“You see how the shanties were constructed with highly inflammable woods and sticks that when catches fire within short time it will destroyed everything,” he explained.

Responding on the allegations of negligence of the fire fighters despite the proximity of their office (less than 300 metres away) to the market, the Executive Secretary said: “The fire truck belonging to the office is under total overhaul sponsored by the chairman, Gusau Local Government and is about to be completed.’’

Sani said in the next two weeks they would be expecting vehicles from the state government for full operations.

“We will begin forceful operations to evacuate shanties in front of Zamfara State Radio, the vegetables markets and others across the state, Sani said, adding that the evacautions would include hotels that don’t have proper exit and fire fighting first aid.