Fire has razed the Gamboru market around the Custom area in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Alhaji Usman Tar, said the fire broke out at the Layin Yan Katako and outer sections of the market.
According to Tar, in a statement, the incident happened on Wednesday at about 10pm, and was effectively extinguished by men of the fire service.
“The Borno State Fire Service immediately dispatched a team of firefighters to the site and the fire was effectively extinguished.
“No human casualty reported. The security of the market was not at risk of trespass or vandalisation,” he said.
He said the fire service and the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, are conducting an on-the-spot assessment of the incident to determine the root causes and steps to avoid future occurrence.
The commissioner said the state government would take all steps to overcome fire disasters in the state.
He advised members of the public to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of the market is not breached.
“On behalf of the Borno State Government, we commiserate with all who are affected by this incident.
“We also thank the first responders for their speed of action which prevented the fire from spreading across the market space,” he said.
DAILY POST recalls that on March 18, 2023 and November 13, 2023 fire gutted the market, which is the biggest perishable goods market in Maiduguri.