The acrid scent of burnt timber still lingered in the air as dawn broke over the Railway Station axis of Gombe metropolis. What had been a vibrant commercial hub, supplying wood and building materials to Gombe State and a significant portion of the North-East, was now reduced to a desolate landscape of blackened ruins, twisted metal sheeting, and smouldering ash. A devastating inferno that swept through the popular Gombe Timber Market, widely recognized as Kasuwar Katako, has left an estimated 60 shop owners facing immense losses, conservatively valued at N600 million, and plunged dozens of families into immediate economic peril.
This devastating fire, which erupted on Monday night, December 15, 2025, shortly after traders had closed for the day, stands as one of the most catastrophic incidents in the market’s history. For many of the affected traders, the disaster erased years, and in some cases, decades of hard-earned investment in mere minutes.
A Vital Economic Artery
Kasuwar Katako is far more than just a collection of wooden stalls; it is a critical commercial artery within Gombe. It serves as a primary supplier of timber, planks, roofing zinc, ceiling boards, nails, and other essential construction materials to artisans, contractors, and households not only within Gombe State but also extending to neighbouring regions in Bauchi, Yobe, and Adamawa. From the early hours of the morning until dusk, the market buzzes with activity: trucks offload logs and processed wood, carpenters engage in lively negotiations with suppliers, and labourers tirelessly transport heavy materials across the sprawling market.
For a multitude of traders, their businesses at Kasuwar Katako represent generational livelihoods, passed down from fathers to their sons. It also plays a crucial role as an employer of young people, artisans, and casual labourers who rely on the daily transactions for their survival.
The Night of the Inferno
Recounting the harrowing moments of the tragedy, the Chairman of the Timber Market Association, Mohammed Ahmadu, known colloquially as Kasuwar Katako, stated that the fire ignited around 7:45 p.m.
“On Monday night around 7:45 p.m., I was alerted that the market was on fire. As the management of the market, we immediately began contacting the fire service to assist in containing the situation,” Ahmadu recounted.
He explained that by the time market leaders and emergency responders were mobilized, the blaze had already escalated beyond control, fanned by the highly flammable nature of the goods stored within the market.
“Before the fire service could arrive, the entire place was engulfed in flames, destroying our merchandise,” he added with visible distress.
Eyewitnesses described the rapid spread of the flames, moving swiftly from one section of the market to another, leaping across narrow pathways and consuming entire rows of shops in rapid succession. Desperate traders who rushed back to the market were tragically left to witness their livelihoods consumed by fire, with stacks of timber, roofing materials, and accessories worth millions of naira turning to ash.
Quantifying the Devastation
While the full extent of the losses is still undergoing assessment, the association chairman indicated that the figures being circulated are conservative estimates.
“I cannot provide the exact monetary value, but the absolute minimum loss from this inferno is N600 million. I am very confident that the actual figure is higher, but for estimation purposes, a vast quantity of goods were destroyed, including various types of wood, zinc sheeting, ceiling materials, nails, and many other items. Sixty of our members are directly suffering from this fire outbreak,” Ahmadu stated.
For many traders, the losses extend far beyond the goods visible in their shops. Several had accumulated stock in anticipation of the peak construction season, while others had secured loans or invested their personal savings to expand their businesses.
By Tuesday morning, traders congregated quietly amidst the ruins of their shops. Some were observed sifting through the ashes, a faint hope of salvaging anything usable. Others sat in stunned silence, struggling to comprehend the reality that their means of sustenance had vanished overnight.
A Plea for Support and Prevention
Community leaders described the prevailing mood as one of collective grief, tinged with a cautious optimism that government intervention would provide the necessary support for victims to rebuild.
One affected trader, Mustapha Hussein, shared his despair: “Everything my brother owned was in that shop. From the funds I loaned him to the timber I purchased last week, all of it is gone.”
Behind every burnt shop lies a family now facing profound uncertainty. Many of the affected traders are primary breadwinners, responsible for school fees, medical expenses, and daily household necessities. With their livelihoods obliterated overnight, the psychological and economic impact is immense.
It was against this backdrop that Ahmadu made an emotional appeal for assistance.
“I am calling upon the government and public-spirited individuals to help the victims of this fire to revive their businesses. They have families and other dependents to care for. We earnestly plead for support,” he implored.
Beyond immediate relief, the chairman underscored the urgent necessity for structural improvements to prevent future occurrences.
“There is a pressing need to drill a borehole within the market and to station a fire service vehicle here to mitigate future incidents,” he appealed earnestly.
Response and Investigation
As news of the inferno spread throughout Gombe, concerns were raised regarding the speed and effectiveness of the emergency response. However, the Secretary of the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency, Haruna Abdullahi, refuted claims that a delayed response contributed to the magnitude of the losses.
“The fire service arrived promptly to combat the fire; regrettably, on their journey from Gombe State University, they were involved in an accident,” Abdullahi explained.
He elaborated that the accident caused a delay for one of the firefighting trucks en route to the emergency, exacerbating an already critical situation.
Addressing the recurring incidents of fire outbreaks in markets and public spaces, Abdullahi suggested that electrical faults remain a significant contributing factor.
“It could be electrical, or it could be something else, but the primary reports received indicate that they were caused by electrical faults,” he stated.
Markets such as Kasuwar Katako often utilize makeshift electrical connections, with multiple shops drawing power from a single source. This arrangement, according to experts, substantially elevates the risk of fire.
Abdullahi confirmed that the government would activate established protocols to support the victims.
“Typically, we have a joint assessment team comprising the National Emergency Management Agency, the State Emergency Management Agency, and the North-East Development Commission. We will conduct a comprehensive assessment. They have suffered considerable losses here; most of them are family individuals,” he added.
Government Assurances and Future Measures
Speaking after personally assessing the damage, the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Manassah Jatau, assured the traders that the government would act upon the recommendations provided by relevant agencies.
“Recommendations will be gathered from SEMA, NEMA, and NEDC,” Jatau confirmed.
He acknowledged the concerns raised by the market leadership, particularly the request for firefighting infrastructure within the market premises.
“We have heard the market chairman’s demand for the drilling of a borehole and the stationing of a fire service vehicle here. I believe there used to be one present, but we will investigate and ascertain its status,” he stated.
While addressing preparedness, the deputy governor offered a reflective perspective, quoting: “Abacha once said that even in the best of all systems, accidents do happen. When events are destined to occur, they will; when a goal is to be scored, regardless of the goalkeeper’s efforts, it will find the net.”
On Monday night, the Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, conveyed profound sorrow over the tragedy. In a press statement issued by Ismaila Misilli, Director-General, Press Affairs, Gombe Government House, the governor characterized the incident as deeply painful and distressing, noting that the scale of destruction represented a significant setback for the hardworking individuals who depend on the market for their daily sustenance.
“The incident is painful and distressing. The scale of destruction is a severe blow to the hardworking men and women who rely on this market for their daily livelihood,” the statement articulated.
Governor Yahaya extended his sympathies to the affected traders, affirming, “We assure them that the government stands resolutely with them during this challenging period.”
In response to the inferno, the governor directed the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency and other pertinent bodies to conduct an immediate and thorough assessment, investigate the root cause of the fire, and provide urgent relief to mitigate its impact on the victims.
He also commended the collaborative efforts of the firefighting and security agencies involved.
“We commend the Gombe State Fire Service, firefighters from Gombe State University, the Federal Fire Service, private tanker operators, as well as security agencies and the Nigerian Red Cross Society for their swift response, which was instrumental in bringing the fire under control and preventing further escalation,” the statement read.
While expressing sympathy to the victims, Yahaya urged for calm and assured them of the government’s commitment.
“We wish to assure them that the government will take the necessary steps to alleviate their losses and reinforce preventive measures to avert future occurrences,” he stated.
The governor reiterated his administration’s determination to establish a state-of-the-art fire service facility, fully equipped to supplement existing resources across the state, aligning with his commitment to safeguarding lives, property, and investments.
The statement also revealed that the governor had been informed of an accident involving one of the firefighting trucks while it was responding to the emergency.
“Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed his sympathy to those involved and prayed for their swift recovery,” Misilli added.
Lessons and the Path Forward
A business analyst, Bolaji Ologundudu, observed that the Kasuwar Katako inferno has once again underscored the inherent vulnerability of Nigeria’s traditional markets, particularly those handling flammable materials.
He emphasized the critical need for enhanced urban planning, the provision of functional fire hydrants, a consistent water supply, and regular safety inspections.
“As the joint assessment teams commence their work, the affected traders should hold onto the hope that the promised relief and long-term safety measures will materialize. For now, the charred remains of the timber market serve as a stark reminder of how swiftly livelihoods can be extinguished and how urgent the task of prevention has become.
For the traders of Kasuwar Katako, the journey to recovery will undoubtedly be arduous. However, amidst the ashes, there persists a shared determination to rebuild, contingent upon prompt support and the assimilation of lessons learned from a night Gombe will not soon forget,” Ologundudu concluded.
