Following the fire outbreak at Bayan Tasha, a market area in Yobe State’s capital, Damaturu on Tuesday Morning, the state governor, Mai Mala Buni has visited the affected place to console the victims.
During the visit, Buni donated N20m to traders that were affected by the fire incident.
The victims, numbering about 200, are traders and owners of shops and stalls in the market.
9News Nigeria has reported earlier how the fire gutted the market, destroying several shops and stalls.
Represented by his deputy, Idi Gubana, the governor said the assistance was aimed to cushion the losses recorded by the traders.
He directed the state Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and Ministry of Commerce to investigate the incident with a view to recommending how best to support the traders.
According to available reports, about 38 permanent shops and eight temporary shops were affected by the fire.
Similarly, a report by News Agency of Nigeria suggests that the fire was caused by suspected electrical fault.
The report noted that Jauro Umaru, Director General, Yobe State Fire Service Board, blamed the extent of the damage on delay in reporting the incident to the service.
“Upon receiving the emergency call, the Zonal Fire Station team closest to the scene was immediately mobilized.
“Recognizing the scale of the fire, they promptly called for reinforcements from the Federal Fire Service, the Headquarters Fire Station, the Government House Unit, and the Yobe State Teaching Hospital (YSTH) Unit of the Fire Service,” he said.
He added that the late reporting of the outbreak allowed it to spread extensively before the arrival of emergency responders.
Umaru also said the congested layout of the market and the presence of highly flammable materials fuelled the fire and undermined efforts to contain it.
The director emphasize that there is a need for proactive fire safety measures and improved emergency preparedness across markets and other public places in the state.
