Two marketplaces in Borno State have been burned in separate fire events.
The cooking oil, orange and spices portions of the Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, were burnt, while the wood part of the Biu Central Market, almost 200 kilometers south of Maiduguri, experienced a similar fate.
Biu is the second main town in Borno State.
The Gamboru Market fire, according to eyewitnesses, erupted at 2.30pm from the orange traders’ sector, while the wood portion of the Biu Central market went up in flame around 10am.
The Biu fire, according to accounts, was suppressed by youngsters before it could spread to other portions of the market, while the Gamboru fire was put out at 3.30pm by the state fire department.
Governor Babagana Zulum, who went on an on-the-spot inspection tour of Gamboru Market, lauded the rapid reaction of the fire department, which he claimed saved the fire from devouring the whole market.
He also applauded the involvement of security officials, who averted the ingress of looters inside the burning complex.
He said he will do a second visit of the market to properly analyze the degree of damage and set up a committee to pay victims and reconstruct the damaged portions.
