Bauchi — Over 300 shops at 'kasuwar Kofa' market along Railway road in Bauchi State were gutted by fire Saturday. The interim chairman of the market, Abdulkadir Yakubu, told the state Deputy Governor Babayo Garba Gamawa who visited the market to sympathize with the traders that they lost goods worth about N150 million. Abdulkadir Yakubu said the incident was as a result of a power surge.

The chairman appealed to the state government to assist those affected by the fire so that they could continue with their businesses. He commended the state Fire Service for their prompt response,saying they arrived there with three tankers and did their best to put out the fire.

In his response, the state deputy governor assured of government's readiness to assist the victims. He said he would provide them with additional land in the area so that they could expand the market.

In a similar development, fire at the weekend gutted buildings in 3 villages of Tudun Wadan Kadade in Toro Local Government Area of the state.

The Chairman of the council Alhaji Hamisu Mohammed who advised people to be careful with fire asked some councillors to take stock of the damage.