BLACK FRIDAY FOR OLD PANTEKA MARKET AS FIRE RAZES OVER 3 DECADES MARKET IN KADUNA

Ruins of the burnt market 

 A midday inferno has razed down, one of the oldest markets in the city metropolis of Kaduna state.


The market, the Old Panteka Market is just a stone throw from the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, seat of the state government and located in Tundun Wada axis.

Eel-Rufai on the spot assessment 

Eyewitnesses say the market was completely razed down in the mysterious blaze this afternoon (Friday 01st December 2017) despite concerted attempts by men of the Kaduna Fire Service who battled the raging flames with help from stall owners and residents of Tundun Wada.

The market is synonymous with trade in building materials, second hand metal scraps, is also the largest timber shed in the state.

Traders and residents are already lamenting the huge loss and source of livelihood which has been in the area for over three decades. A huge revenue generator and employer of both skilled and unskilled workers, the Old Panteka Market was always a beehive of activities, seven days of the week with many trooping in and out of the area.
Although earlier reports state that it was slated for demolition to make room for an arcade but good reasoning prevailed as Mallam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai rescinded on his plans.

Mojeed Alansanmi lamented the fire outbreak while speaking with NAIJ NEWS ALERT as he claims to have lost over #15,000,000:00 in goods and cash, describing the incident as a black day in his life.

Sunny Odinachi, a high profile dealer of timber says he still cannot believe that goods which he took delivery of, and made payment just 24hrs ago, is all gone.

Reports on what could have caused the fire inferno remains yet unknown but with the many cooking places, welding workshops, one could not really identify the real cause.

The state governor had since visited the market to commiserate with the traders.