Two markets in Borno State have been burnt in separate fire incidents.
The cooking oil, orange and spices sections of the Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, were razed, as the timber section of the Biu Central Market, over 200 kilometers south of Maiduguri, suffered a similar fate.
Biu is the second principal town in Borno State.
The Gamboru Market fire, according to eyewitnesses, started around 2.30pm from the orange traders’ section, while the timber section of the Biu Central market went up in flame around 10am.
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The Biu fire, according to reports, was subdued by youths before it could spread to other sections of the market, while the Gamboru fire was put out around 3.30pm by the state fire service.
Governor Babagana Zulum, who went on an on-the-spot assessment tour of Gamboru Market, commended the prompt response of the fire service, which he said stopped the fire from consuming the entire market.
He also commended the intervention of security agents, which prevented the infiltration of looters into the burning facility.
He said he would undertake a second tour of the market to comprehensively assess the extent of damage and set up a committee to compensate victims and rebuild the damaged sections.
