At least one person was confirmed dead as early morning fire razed over 500 shops at the Station Market in Kaduna South Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.
Although the extent of the damage done has yet to be fully ascertained, it is believed to have destroyed food items and property running into millions of naira.
The market, which is made up of make-shift shops, is known for the sale of food stuff, among other items.
The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that the fire which stated at about 1am lasted till about 5am before it was put out.
The market, which served as the main hub for fruits, grains, chicken and plastic has been reduced to a smouldering heap with virtually everything in sight completely burnt.
Shop owners and their families were seen in distress, some wailing uncontrollably due to the magnitude of their losses.
Ibrahim Musa, Chairman of the market traders association, said more than N200 million worth of goods were lost to the inferno.
“The fire started from an electricity spark from one of the containers and we heard explosions which started the fire.”
Musa said that the association had started compiling list of those affected by the fire.
Danladi Rabiu, Head of the market security, said although fighters from the state office and Nigerian Breweries responded early to the distress call sent to them, their efforts was minimal in containing the fire outbreak.
“Men of the state fire service came on time but they were unable to put out the fire as their truck developed fault and we had to use buckets to put off the fire.
“Mohammed Sani, a phone accessory seller, said he lost over N800, 000 worth of phones to the fire.
“I got the call the call at 3:00 am but before I got to the market I had lost everything.
“Ikenna Mani, said his wife lost N200, 000 worth of grains to the fire, adding that she was the bread winner of the family since he lost his job.
Jummai Alkali, a widow, said she lost N3 million worth of grains to the fire, adding that “everything was lost and I have nowhere else to fend for my children.”
Ibrahim Abdulahi , a shop owner, said “we cannot estimate the level of damage caused by the fire for now”, and called for immediate assistance to the victims from emergency relief agencies and well meaning Nigerians.
An official of the state fire service acknowledged that their vehicle broke down in spite of responding to the emergency in good time.
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