The Birnin Kebbi Central Market has been gutted by fire, according to the the News Agency of Nigeria.

A NAN correspondent, who visited the scene of the incident today, reported that property worth millions of naira was destroyed but no life was lost in the fire, which started in the early hours of the day.

The Chairman of the central market management, Alhaji Abubakar Bandam, told journalists in Birnin Kebbi that the fire was noticed at about midnight, adding that the source of the inferno had yet to be determined.

He said the management of the market was working closely with security agencies to identify the cause, just as he commended the states fire service for its prompt response.

The state Director of the Fire Service, Alhaji Bello Zagga, told NAN that the fire lasted for several hours because the firefighting vans did not have easy access to the spot of the inferno.

He said although the source of the fire had yet to be identified, it appeared that illegal electrical wiring and connections in shops were responsible.

Government officials, led by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Alhaji Suleiman Argungu, and the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mohammad Bashar, visited the scene to sympathise with traders who lost their goods.