Building materials worth millions of naira were gutted by fire on Saturday night at the Kara market in Sokoto.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the inferno was said to have started at around 10.20pm on Saturday, while the cause of the incident had yet to ascertained.
The fire was said to have been put out at around 1am on Sunday by the combined efforts of officials of the state Fire Service and residents, including the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Alhaji Isa Achida.
The Secretary of the Building Materials Sellers Association in the market, Alhaji Bello Bibi, said hundreds of traders lost their wares to the inferno.
Bibi said some of the materials destroyed by the fire included wood, nails, ceilings, paint as well as carpentry materials.
He appealed for urgent assistance from both the state and Federal Governments as well as public spirited individuals.
While describing the incident as an act of God, the secretary also called for the strengthening of the capacity of the fire service station at the nearby Sokoto Central Market.
Achida, on his part, gave an assurance that the state government would come to the aid of the victims at the appropriate time.
NAN
