Fire kills many animals at Gombe cattle market

An early morning fire killed hundreds of animals at the Gombe cattle market, Daily Trust reports. It was learnt that the fire which started around 2am, burnt large number of animals beyond recognition, at the section of the market occupied by livestock sellers.   A correspondent who visited the market Sunday morning, counted over 60 […]

An early morning fire killed hundreds of animals at the Gombe cattle market, Daily Trust reports.

It was learnt that the fire which started around 2am, burnt large number of animals beyond recognition, at the section of the market occupied by livestock sellers.

 

A correspondent who visited the market Sunday morning, counted over 60 livestock roasted by the inferno, apart from uncountable others that were burnt down to ashes.   

 

Chairman of the market, Bala Usman, said the fire claimed animals worth millions of naira, saying the market was patronized by people from all over the country and beyond.

Public Relations Officer of the Gombe State Fire Service, Haruna Wambai, said preliminary investigations showed that the inferno was caused by an electrical fault when electricity supply was restored to the market last night.

"One of the market stall which serve as a store of animal food catches fire soon after the electricity was restored, it escalade to other stalls which were made from corn stalk," he said.

Haruna Wambai said the watchmen attached to the market and men of the state Fire Service were able to evacuated thousands of animals from the market.