Three people lost their lives and another survived with injuries after two separate fire outbreaks occurred in Kano State on Friday, according to the State Fire Service.
The agency’s spokesman, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, confirmed the incidents in a statement on Saturday.
The first incident happened around 1:30pm when a tanker transporting 30,000 litres of petrol overturned and exploded at Kura Market junction along Zaria Road.
The vehicle, with registration number NGZ 250 XA, reportedly knocked down a cyclist before bursting into flames.
A retired Civil Defence officer, Danlami Muhammad, alerted the Emergency Response Unit, prompting immediate deployment of firefighters from the command headquarters.
“Firefighters arrived to find the tanker completely engulfed. Four people were involved; three were rescued unconscious but later confirmed dead, while the cyclist survived,” the statement noted.
The remains of the victims were handed over to ASP Ahmad Lawan of the Kura Police Division. Two fire trucks—one from headquarters and another from the Kura station—were used to contain the blaze.
The cause of the accident is still being investigated.
Another fire incident occurred at about 2:45pm at Hamisu Plaza on Maiduguri Road in the Taruni Local Government Area.
The top floor of the two-storey shopping complex was already on fire when emergency responders arrived.
Three shops were completely burnt, while others on the lower floors were saved.
A fire truck stationed at the ongoing trade fair responded to the scene.
The cause of the fire is also under investigation.
The Fire Service Director, Alhaji Sani Anas, urged residents to handle fire-related materials with increased caution, especially during the harmattan season, and advised motorists to obey traffic regulations to prevent avoidable disasters.
These incidents come shortly after multiple fire outbreaks in the state, including the death of four family members in a house fire in Tarauni and the destruction of over 40 shops at Singer Market earlier in November.
