By The Adamawa State Government has confirmed the extensive losses suffered by traders following a devastating fire that destroyed a large section of the Kasuwan Dadi Grains Market in Dumne, Song Local Government Area.
The inferno, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, January 19, caught residents and traders unaware, as most of the community was asleep at the time of the incident.
During a visit to the affected market on Wednesday, the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, described the incident as tragic, noting that more than 60 traders lost their shops and merchandise to the fire. She lamented that the destruction would have far-reaching consequences on the livelihoods of the victims and the broader economic activities of the state.
“We came to commiserate with the traders who lost their goods and to pray that such an incident does not occur again,” Farauta said.
She noted that although the visit came days after the incident, the cause of the fire had yet to be ascertained. While thanking God that no lives were lost, the deputy governor cautioned residents against careless burning of refuse and bushes, particularly during the dry and harmattan seasons.
“We are in the dry and harmattan season when fires can spread easily. People should be careful when setting fires or discarding cigarette stubs. Traders should also ensure that any fire used during business hours is properly extinguished at the end of the day,” she advised.
In his remarks, the paramount ruler of the area, the Gubo Yungur, John Dio Matalo, expressed appreciation to the state government for the visit and support, adding that investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
Other members of the government delegation included the Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, Awwal Tukur; the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Edgar Sunday; the Commissioner of Police, Dankombo Morris; and the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Idris Bande.
