The state Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Katsina told Governor Abdullahi Ganduje who visited the market yesterday that the suspects were apprehended by security personnel deployed to the market to ensure security of lives and property following the fire outbreak.
Muhammad Katsina said that the suspects were arrested in different locations of the market while trying to escape with their loots.
He said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation was completed.
“The suspects are presently in our custody and as soon as investigation is concluded, they will be charged to court,” Katsina said.
In his remarks, the governor said the state government had taken measures aimed at preventing future occurrence.
Ganduje commiserated with the victims of the disaster and commended security personnel for ensuring adequate security during the incident.
He also thanked various private companies who supported the state Fire Service in putting out the inferno.
Meanwhile the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has announced that at least 3,800 shops were destroyed by Saturday’s fire incident at the Sabon Gari Market, Kano.
Its Director-General, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, told newsmen at the scene of the incident in Kano that the interim assessment of the situation indicated that more than 90 per cent of the market had been destroyed by the fire.
Sani-Didi said: |It is unfortunate that from the record more than 90 per cent of the market has been burnt.
“Base on the report, more than 3, 800 shops and quite a number of buildings were razed by the inferno.”
The director-general explained that no fewer than 15 persons sustained various degrees of injury during the incident.
Sani-Sidi, however, said the injured were already receiving treatment at the hospital.
He said the agency was working closely with the state government to ensure that the victims received proper treatment at the hospital.
“Assessment is still ongoing and the state government has mobilised over 100 trucks to clear the rubble,” Sani-Sidi said.
He said that lack of access roads made it slightly difficult for fire fighting vehicles to have easy access to the market, while the fire was raging.
“The incident was unprecedented and overwhelming and can negatively affect the economy of the country,” he said. [myad]
