Fire Destroys N56.8m Worth Of Onions In Sokoto Community

Onion farmers in Kojiyo community, Goronyo local government area are counting their losses from a fire outbreak which destroyed 2,275 bags of onions, estimated at about N56.8 million.

The incident, which affected about 65 traditional onion storage huts, has thrown the community into distress.

The residents said there were no casualties, but the fire started around 2 p.m. on Friday and lasted for about seven hours, leaving the villagers with tears due to the heavy losses they recorded.

The national president of the Nigerian Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), Aliyu Isah Maitasamu, said each hut contained about 35 bags of onions.

He said a total of 2,275 bags were destroyed and, at an estimated price of N25,000 per bag in the village, the value stands at about N56.8 million.

Maitasamu added that the association had repeatedly warned farmers to avoid activities that could trigger fire outbreaks around onion storage facilities, especially as the structures are made of dry grass and stalks.

He said the cause of the fire had yet to be ascertained.

“We are still investigating to determine the cause of the fire,” he said.

Maitasamu, however, dismissed fears of a possible hike in onion prices, noting that the quantity lost was insignificant and would not affect the market.

According to him, the loss is insufficient to cause a rise in onion prices.

Some of the affected farmers said the incident had wiped out their livelihoods.

One of the victims, Alhaji Abdullahi Rima, who lost about 210 bags, said the fire destroyed his entire stock.

“It is a huge loss for me. Everything I stored there has been burnt,” he said.

Another farmer, Nura Arzika Magaji, who lost 70 bags, said he depended on the produce for his daily needs.

“We usually sell gradually to take care of our families, but now everything is gone. We currently don’t have what to eat,” he said.

A third victim, Ashafa Muhammad, said he lost 35 bags in the incident.

“We are in mourning because it destroyed everything we relied on. We believe it is the will of Allah,” he said.

A security guard at the facility, Abubakar Maigadi, said he was sleeping when the fire started.

“I woke up to the sound of the fire. I don’t know what caused it. I also lost my clothes and other valuables in my hut,” he said.

The village head of Kojiyo, Muhammadu Sani Sarkin Rima, said the incident affected many households.

He said, “Some families now have nothing to eat because what they depended on has been destroyed. Each hut contained between 35 and 38 bags of onions.”

He called on the government and relevant agencies to assist the affected residents.

Maitasamu also appealed to the government and agencies such as the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to support the victims with relief materials and farm inputs.

The public relations officer of SEMA, Abdullahi Ghani, said the agency was not yet aware of the incident but would act once it received official communication.

“We are not aware, but if there is any report from the local government, SEMA will carry out an assessment,” he said.