By Danjuma Amodu | February 20, 2026
A devastating early morning fire has destroyed no fewer than 50 shops at the Fatima Simra Multi-Purpose Market in Kano State’s Dakata area, leaving traders in shock and counting their losses.
The fire, which began around 5:40 a.m. on Friday, swept through a section of the busy market known for housing small-scale industrial and recycling businesses.
Chairman of the market’s fire committee, Dauda Haruna Chula, confirmed the incident, describing the situation as alarming as flames continued to rage hours after the outbreak.
“From the preliminary what we have seen, about 50 shops are already down and the fire is still ongoing. We are still expecting the Kano State Fire Service personnel,” Chula said.
The affected shops were mainly engaged in oil production and recycling of plastics and nylon materials, which may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Thick smoke billowed into the early morning sky as traders and residents scrambled to salvage goods and prevent the flames from spreading.
The incident comes barely one week after a major inferno ravaged the popular Singer Market in Kano, affecting over 1,000 traders and causing massive economic losses.
