Something is wrong Fire Again: 250 Shops Razed in Maiduguri Market Fire

About 250 shops at the Bolori market in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital were gutted by fire on Sunday. The fire was said to have started from a tree in the market before spreading to other parts of the market.

This came two days after 1000 shops were burnt at the Damboa market in Damboa Local Government Area of the state. According to the chairman of the market association, Mallam Gana Alhaji Uba, the tree is believed by the traders to have some magical powers.

“I was in my house when someone came to tell me that the market was burning. On getting to the market, we saw the fire coming from the tree”, he added. Initially, the Fire Service could not gain  access into the market because the gates of the market are too small, but we pulled down one of them so that the Fire Service could enter and put out the fire”, he said.

The market leader appealed to Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff to come to the aid of the victims.

When our correspondent visited the market yesterday, he saw people cutting down the tree.