A devastating fire swept through a commercial area in Kano on Thursday, destroying several shops and office buildings and leaving business owners counting heavy losses.
The blaze, which erupted in the early hours of the day, quickly spread through the affected buildings, consuming goods, office equipment and other valuables before firefighters brought the situation under control.
Emergency responders from the Kano State Fire Service battled the inferno for hours to prevent it from spreading to neighbouring structures. No fatalities were immediately reported, although the extent of injuries, if any, remained unclear.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire, while officials said investigations are underway to establish what triggered the incident.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as traders and workers rushed to salvage whatever they could before the flames engulfed the buildings.
The incident has dealt a significant economic blow to affected business owners, many of whom said they lost goods and property worth millions of naira.
The Kano State Fire Service urged residents and business owners to observe fire safety measures and promptly report emergencies to minimise the impact of future incidents.
