Fires Destroy ₦500 Million Onion Stocks in Sokoto

In Sokoto State, three fire outbreaks within a week have resulted in the destruction of onion stocks valued at nearly ₦500 million. The most recent fire occurred on Friday in Duhuwa Village, where 5,832 bags of onions were lost.

This incident followed two earlier fires, one in Kojiyo Village, which destroyed 2,275 bags, and another that consumed 2,000 bags, totaling approximately 10,000 bags lost across affected communities. Local accounts suggest that the fire in Duhuwa began in a single hut and quickly spread, raising suspicions about potential external factors as the fires occurred shortly after prayers.

The Nigerian Onion Producers and Processors Market Association, represented by Aliyu Isah, expressed concerns over the financial toll on farmers, estimating losses in Duhuwa alone at ₦204 million based on prevailing market prices. The absence of nearby water sources hampered firefighting efforts, prompting calls for a thorough investigation by security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, and appeals for urgent relief for affected farmers.