The popular Singa Market in Kano State was engulfed by a devastating fire that raged for nearly 24 hours, causing monumental destruction and claiming lives. The inferno, which originated in a provision store at Gidan Gashash on Saturday afternoon, rapidly spread across the market, obliterating properties and goods valued at over ₦5 billion and impacting more than 1,000 businesses, including shops and stalls within four residential buildings that also housed small-scale enterprises. Tragically, at least seven persons were confirmed to have died or gone missing as a result of the blaze.

Emergency response efforts were severely hampered by challenging conditions. Saminu Abdullahi, spokesperson for the State Fire Service, confirmed that while personnel and vehicles were promptly mobilized, poor access roads and heavy human traffic prevented firefighters from reaching the heart of the blaze in time, leaving many traders watching their life's work turn to smoke, with one lamenting, “Before the time the path was cleared for the fire trucks, there was nothing left but charcoal.”

The incident has drawn widespread commiseration and concern from various levels of government. Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State visited the site, describing it as a monumental tragedy. He expressed deep sympathy for the victims, assuring them of state support and calling for swift intervention from the federal government. Governor Yusuf also highlighted the urgent need for improved safety protocols, noting that this was the second fire to hit the market in February, following a previous blaze on February 2 that destroyed large warehouses.

President Bola Tinubu extended his sympathies to the traders and the people of Kano State. His media aide, Bayo Onanuga, stated that the President had earlier contacted Governor Abba Yusuf for a situation report and described the incident as tragic. President Tinubu expressed alarm that this latest incident occurred less than two weeks after another fire at the same market and directed a comprehensive investigation into the causes of these recurring market fires, which often leave traders in despair.

Similarly, Dapo Abiodun, Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ogun State, commiserated with Kano State. In a statement, he described the incident as one of the most unfortunate tragedies in the market's history, sympathizing with traders who lost valuable goods and properties. He urged them not to lose hope, assuring them that the Kano State Government would take necessary steps to support affected victims. Abiodun also called on market authorities and relevant local government officials to implement measures to prevent future occurrences, emphasizing that the destruction of equipment, merchandise, and other valuables was a heavy blow to many families' livelihoods.

The atmosphere at the market was one of profound grief, with traders sifting through charred remains, lamenting the loss of decades of hard-earned capital. Many described the heat as unbearable and the smoke suffocating, making salvage efforts futile. Adding to the devastation, reports indicated that some miscreants exploited the chaos to loot items that had escaped the flames, creating a “double tragedy” for the victims already battling the inferno. Investigations are underway to determine the exact circumstances of the fatalities and the overall causes of the recurring blazes, as the community grapples with the immense financial and human cost.