Fire Razes Gombe Timber Market As Gov Yahaya Orders Investigation

Goods, mostly timbers, worth millions of naira were destroyed on Monday night when a fire outbreak gutted a section of the Gombe Timber Market (Kasuwar Katako) along the Railway Station area of Gombe metropolis.

The inferno, which started around 7:30 pm, reportedly affected more than 30 major timber shops, rapidly spreading due to the highly combustible nature of materials stored in the market.

Interacting with LEADERSHIP, Mohammad Sani Amadu, chairman of the Timber Sellers Association in Gombe, stated that the fire was triggered by an electrical spark in one of the shops. He explained that traders immediately contacted the fire service, but efforts to contain the blaze were hampered by the inadequate supply of water for extinguishing it.

“We noticed an electrical spark in one of the shops that we could not stop, and then called firefighters. They came but ran short of water, so we had to seek additional help from Gombe State University,” Amadu said.

He added that the scale of losses was difficult to determine, noting that one trader alone lost timber estimated at over N100 million.

Another victim, Alhaji Abba, described the incident as devastating, saying he could not quantify his losses but stressed that they were substantial.

Traders also decried the absence of a fire service station within the market, arguing that such a facility could have significantly reduced the damage. They called for urgent government intervention and support to rebuild their livelihoods.

Confirming the incident, secretary of the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Abdullahi Haruna Abdullahi, said preliminary findings indicated that the fire was caused by an electrical spark.

He disclosed that a joint assessment team comprising SEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced an evaluation of the damage.

Reacting to the incident, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya expressed deep sorrow over the destruction and directed immediate investigation and emergency relief measures to cushion the impact on victims.

The governor sympathised with affected traders and assured them of government support, while commending the firefighters for their efforts in bringing the fire under control.

He also disclosed that one of the firefighting trucks was involved in an accident while responding to the emergency and prayed for the quick recovery of those affected.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya reiterated his administration’s plans to establish a fire service office to complement existing facilities and prevent future occurrences.

He urged residents to remain calm as the government works to mitigate the losses and improve safety measures across major markets in the state.