Fire razes ₦1.1bn worth of goods in Gombe timber, scrap markets
Property estimated at ₦1.1 billion has been destroyed following two separate fire outbreaks at the Gombe timber and scrap markets within the past month.
The most recent incident occurred on Monday night at the Kasuwan Katako (Timber Market), where goods valued at over ₦600 million were lost. According to the Chairman of the Timber Sellers Association, Mohammed Ahmadu, the fire broke out at about 7:00 p.m. and consumed at least 60 shops filled with timber and other construction materials.
Ahmadu appealed to both the state and federal governments for urgent assistance, noting that many affected traders have lost their means of livelihood and are struggling to support their families.
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During an inspection of the affected area, Deputy Governor Manasseh Jatau expressed sympathy with the victims and assured them that the government would evaluate the extent of the damage and offer necessary support. He also advised traders to take electrical safety more seriously, recalling that another section of the market was destroyed by fire barely three weeks earlier.
It would be recalled that on November 18, 2025, a similar fire incident at the Scrap/Timber Market destroyed property worth more than ₦500 million, burning down over 30 shops and affecting more than 100 traders. The Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Haruna Abdullahi, said investigations were ongoing, adding that the fire was suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault.
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