Hussaini Ibrahim 
KANO, Nigeria – A devastating early-morning fire tears through parts of Singa Market in Kano on Monday, halting commercial activity and leaving traders counting heavy losses, as a separate blaze in Anambra State claims the life of a 95-year-old woman.
The Kano fire erupts before dawn, racing through sections of the crowded market and destroying goods before emergency responders arrive. The Kano State Fire Service confirms it receives a distress call at 3:16am and immediately deploys firefighters to contain the inferno.
“By mid-morning, some sections are still smouldering, but our teams are working to fully suppress the fire and stop further spread,” Fire Service spokesperson Saminu Yusif says.
He explains that authorities cannot immediately determine the cause or the full scale of destruction until firefighting operations conclude and safety assessments begin. Traders affected by the incident describe scenes of panic as flames consume stalls stocked with food items, textiles and household goods.
Hours later, another fire outbreak shocks residents of Onitsha North Local Government Area in Anambra State. The blaze guts a two-storey residential building on Fabikez Street, Omagba Phase 2, killing an elderly woman trapped inside.
Anambra State Fire Service officials say the fire starts in one apartment and spreads rapidly to adjoining rooms before responders, supported by residents, bring it under control. Properties worth several million naira are destroyed in the incident.
The twin tragedies renew national concern over Nigeria’s persistent fire outbreaks, particularly in markets and densely populated residential areas. Fire safety experts repeatedly link such incidents to faulty electrical wiring, illegal power connections and limited access to firefighting infrastructure.
Authorities urge traders and homeowners to prioritise electrical safety and adhere to fire prevention guidelines as investigations into both incidents continue.
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Mirian Gom 
