Fire destroys 126 shops in Niger markets — NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency has reported that no fewer than 126 shops were destroyed in two fire incidents that occurred at the Panteka Gwari Market and the Tunga Business Area in the Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State on Sunday and Monday.

In a post-disaster assessment update shared on its X page on Wednesday, NEMA disclosed that goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in the incidents.

The agency confirmed that no lives were lost in the fire.

The statement read, “The Minna Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency carried out a post-disaster assessment of fire incidents at two locations in Chanchaga Local Government Area, Niger State.

“The incidents occurred on the 15th and 16th of December 2024, affecting the Panteka Gwari Market and the Tunga Business Area, respectively.

“Although no casualties were reported, the fire caused extensive damage to properties valued at millions of naira.”

The statement further revealed that the 126 shops destroyed contained goods such as generators, shoes, and furniture, among other items.

“Over 126 shops were affected, with losses including furniture materials, aluminium windows, generators, shoes, iron scraps, and more,” the statement added.

PUNCH Metro had earlier reported on September 9 that forty-eight people who lost their lives in a petrol tanker explosion in the Agaie Local Government Area of the state were given a mass burial.

Our correspondent reported that the incident occurred in the early hours of the day when the petrol tanker had a head-on collision with a truck carrying travellers and cattle from Wudil in Kano State.

The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arab, confirmed that the 48 victims were burnt beyond recognition, necessitating a mass burial in the local government.