Tragedy struck early Thursday morning as a raging fire engulfed over 300 shops at the popular Farm Centre GSM Market in Kano State, leaving property worth hundreds of millions of naira in ruins.
The fire, which reportedly started around 1:30 a.m., caught traders and residents by surprise. Though the exact cause of the inferno remains unknown, eyewitnesses suspect it may have been triggered by an electrical surge or an abandoned generator left running overnight.
By the time firefighters arrived at the scene, the flames had already spread across major sections of the market, including warehouses and phone accessories stalls, wiping out years of investment and the livelihoods of hundreds of young entrepreneurs and traders.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, Auwalu Abdullahi, chairman of the market association, said:
“This is a total disaster. We have counted no fewer than 320 shops destroyed, some stocked with imported phones, laptops, SIM cards, and accessories. Many traders are still in shock. Some of them had just restocked yesterday.”
Officials of the Kano State Fire Service confirmed the incident and said an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause. According to the Fire Service Public Relations Officer, Saminu Yusuf Abdullahi, firemen responded swiftly to the distress call but were hindered by the tight layout of the market and lack of access routes, which delayed containment.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who visited the scene hours later, described the incident as “heartbreaking” and assured victims that the state government will offer emergency relief and support for rebuilding.
“We will immediately set up a committee to assess the level of damage and recommend support for the affected traders. This market is a major hub of youth employment, and we will not abandon them,” the governor said.
The Farm Centre GSM Market is one of Northern Nigeria’s largest hubs for phones, computer accessories, and repair services, drawing customers from across Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, and Bauchi States.
Many of the affected traders are now calling on the federal government and private sector donors to intervene and support their recovery, as most of them reportedly operate without insurance.
This is the second major market fire in Kano in less than six months, reigniting conversations around market safety, enforcement of electrical regulations, and the urgent need for fire prevention infrastructure in densely packed commercial zones.
