By Yunusa Isa, Gombe
Gombe State Government has assessed the level of damages caused by a fire inferno at Gombe Maƙera Market, pledging to support the victims in a shortest possible time.
This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Tourism Nasiru Muhammad Aliyu during an assessment visit in the market.
The commissioner said Maƙera Market as manufacturing hub of all sort of machines and equipment, its economic importance to the development of the state can not be over emphasized.
He condoled with the martket community especially the victims, consoling them to take heart in the disaster he described as a will of God.
He said Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya was disturbed by the incident which he described as worrisome, assuring to submit a detailed report to the governor for possible intervention.
Speaking earlier, the chairman Maƙera Market, Chindo Baba and the Manager Shuaibu Kotis, said the inferno which occurred on the 25th of December, 2023 affected 9 shops and a mosque, destroying properties worth over 12 million Naira.
They added that in the nine affected shops, over 80 people are making their daily livelihood for self-reliance, describing the victims as mostly poor.
Some of the victims who spoke to newsmen Zakariyya Abubakar Muhammad, and Usman Muhammad popularly called Balale, appreciated the State Governor for identifying with them by sending a high powered delegation to assess the damage, appealing to the state government and well meaning individuals in the state to come to their aid.
The source of the inferno is yet to be identified.
