Fire Destroys 5,800 Onion Bags in Sokoto Village

On Friday, a fire in Duhuwa Village, Sokoto, destroyed 5,832 onion bags stored in 324 huts, resulting in an estimated loss of N204,120,000 based on the prevailing village price of N35,000 per bag. The fire started around 2:00 PM and lasted until 5:00 PM, spreading rapidly across storage structures.

This incident follows two similar outbreaks in Kojiyo Village, Goronyo Local Government Area, where 2,275 bags valued at N56.8 million were destroyed. Farmers like Bashiru Muhammadu reported devastating losses, with some losing up to 600 bags.

The absence of nearby water sources exacerbated the damage. Local leaders and farmers are appealing for government support, as the cumulative loss from these incidents is estimated at N500 million.

The Nigerian Onion Producers and Processors Market Association (NOPPMAN) has expressed alarm over the frequency of these fires and is urging security agencies to investigate the causes. The Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has stated they were not initially aware of the situation but will investigate.