•Fire outbreak
Several shops and vehicles were today destroyed following a fire outbreak at the popular mechanic village in Sokoto, popularly known as Buzaye Garage, which is also patronised by motorists from neighbouring Niger.
The inferno, which reportedly started around 10 a.m., was said by affected shop owners to have been triggered by an electrical fault, reports Daily Trust.
The fire raged for several hours, overwhelming efforts by the Federal Fire Service, the Sokoto State Fire Service, and members of the local community to contain it.
A mechanic at the scene told our correspondent that no fewer than 40 shops had been affected, adding that the fire was still burning as of the time of filing this report.
“We have lost over 40 shops, and the fire is still raging despite the combined efforts of the fire services and our community,” he said.
The blaze reportedly consumed a section of the village designated for the repair of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, as well as several spare parts shops. Many of the affected vehicles were said to have been brought in by motorists from within Sokoto State and neighbouring Niger Republic.
Confirming the incident, the chairman of the Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Buzaye Unit, Engr. Abdulkadir Muhammad, described the situation as devastating, noting that many mechanics lost not only their workshops but also vehicles entrusted to them by customers.
“It is too early to ascertain the exact number of shops and vehicles destroyed because the fire is still burning,” he said.
“We can only determine the extent of the damage after the fire has been completely quenched.”
Engr. Muhammad attributed the outbreak to an electrical fault, explaining that the mechanic village houses numerous inflammable materials and gas cylinders used for welding, which may have worsened the situation.
He appealed to the Sokoto State Government to provide assistance to affected members, recalling that the last time the association received government support after a similar incident was over a decade ago, during the administration of former governor Aliyu Wamakko.
“We recorded a similar fire incident during the immediate past administration, but despite repeated appeals, nothing was done for our members,” he said.
As of press time, firefighters were still battling to bring the inferno under control.
