A raging inferno broke out at the popular “Yan Katako” market in Sabon Gari, Zaria, Kaduna State, resulting in the destruction of over 150 shops. According to a source who preferred to remain anonymous, the fire started at around 1 am on Wednesday and raged until the afternoon.

The market’s Chief Security Officer, Hamisu Buhari, confirmed that the fire was caused by an electric pole that fell on the roof of one of the shops after power was restored by the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company.

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Efforts to attract fire service agencies within the area failed, forcing Buhari to contact the Sabon Gari Main Market fire service, which requested fuel before arriving at the scene. Alhaji Alin Ashiru, the chairman of Timber dealers in the market, attributed the fire to an electric spark and disclosed that about 150 shops were burnt to ashes, with property worth millions of naira destroyed.

The Head of Corporate Affairs, KEDCO, Abdul Azeez Abdullahi, confirmed the fire incident when contacted but refuted claims that an electric spark caused it.