The Federal Fire Service has revealed that a solar battery explosion was responsible for the devastating fire at Singer Market in Kano State.
The Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Command of the Service, Al-Hassan Kantin, disclosed this on Monday in an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily.’
“This incident in Singer market is quite unfortunate and disturbing. I sympathise with the victims on behalf of the Federal Fire Service. This incident is linked to an explosion of solar battery. The one that actually occurred two weeks ago was also linked to the same thing,” Kantin said.
He noted that fires are generally preventable and highlighted concerns about the increasing use of solar systems. “What we should focus on now is this current trend of solar system because currently, the majority of the populace have resolved to the use of solar system,” he added.
The blaze, which started Saturday evening in the Gidan Glass section, raged into Sunday morning, destroying properties worth over N5 billion and affecting more than 1,000 businesses. Seven persons remain unaccounted for.
Market Chairman Junaid Zakari described the incident as one of the worst tragedies in the market’s history. “This is a disaster that will never be forgotten. Hundreds of families have been left without livelihoods,” he said.
Shop owners recounted staggering losses. Isa Abubakar said he lost goods worth over N200 million, while Musa Ibrahim reported losses exceeding N340 million. “The fire consumed everything we had. It is heartbreaking to see decades of hard work destroyed in hours,” Ibrahim said.
Governor Abba Yusuf has called on the Federal Government to provide modern firefighting equipment, including air support, while President Bola Tinubu directed a comprehensive investigation into the repeated fires at the market.
