By Uzair Adam
A devastating fire outbreak struck Kwalema Small Scale Rubber Recycling Industries in Dakata, Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State in the early hours of Wednesday, reducing over 200 factories to ashes.
Our reporter, who visited the scene, observed extensive damages and financial losses amounting to millions of naira.
A scene of the incident
Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident, which occurred at about 6:00 a.m.
The chairman of the industries, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar, confirmed that all the factories in Sections B and C of the market were completely destroyed, leaving behind only wreckage, including recycling and crushing machines.
Abubakar stated that the cause of the fire remained unknown but suspected an electrical fault or spark.
He explained that the fire started from one factory in Section B before spreading rapidly to Section C, consuming everything in its path.
“I watched helplessly as my factory burned” – Chairman
Recounting his ordeal, Abubakar lamented the loss of millions of naira, saying he watched in despair as the fire reached his own factory and razed it to the ground.
“The fire was so intense that it couldn’t be controlled by factory workers alone. Even the fire service, located about 1.5 to 2 kilometers away, arrived late,” he said.
“When they eventually came, they didn’t have enough water to extinguish the flames. That’s how my factory and many others were reduced to ashes while I watched helplessly.”
Eyewitnesses describe the fire’s rapid spread
Workers at the industry narrated how the fire started in a factory in Section B, located in the northern part of the market.
They stated that despite their efforts to put it out, the fire resisted and spread to neighboring factories.
As the situation worsened, they called for the intervention of the fire service. However, the chairman noted that by the time he arrived at the scene, the fire service had yet to respond.
“When they finally arrived, they still didn’t have sufficient water to contain the fire. It continued to spread until it reached our section and burned down factories, including mine and those of my neighbors,” he added.
Victims count their losses
One of the victims, Alhaji Ahmed Ya’u, stood motionless in front of his destroyed factory, sweating and in shock over the loss.
“Just yesterday, I bought recycling materials worth six million naira. I also had a recycling contract worth four million naira. In total, over ten million naira worth of materials and equipment have been lost,” he said.
Despite the devastating loss, Ya’u expressed his faith, saying, “I take this as a test from the Almighty God. He gave me the wealth, and He has taken it away. I pray He compensates me.”
Another victim, Abdulkadir Muhammad Aliyu, described the experience as horrific, but said he considered it to be test.
He was quoted as saying, “I was at home when I received a call about the fire around 6:00 a.m. Upon arriving, I found my factory among those destroyed.
“By Allah, I cannot even estimate the millions of naira lost, including materials belonging to clients,” he said, adding, “However, as a believer, I accept this as a test and seek comfort in Allah,” he added.
Police confirm incident, call for caution
The Kano State Police Command confirmed the fire outbreak and sympathized with the victims, thanking God that no lives were lost.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, through the command’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said officers had been deployed to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the damage.
“No lives were lost, but properties worth millions of naira were destroyed,” he said, adding that an investigation had been launched. He also urged the public to exercise caution to prevent future fire outbreaks.
Efforts to get a response from the fire service spokesperson, Saminu Yusuf, proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.