Billions Of Naira Lost In Gombe Timber Market Fire Outbreak … Gov Yahaya Orders Probe

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Governor of  Gombe State, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, on Tuesday December 16, 2025, directed for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the devastating inferno that engulfed the State’s major timber market.

The Source reports that a middle-of-the-night fire outbreak on Monday,at the Gombe Main Timber Market (Kasuwar Katako close to the railway station in Gombe, left an orgy of destruction of properties and goods worth billions of Naira.

According to local sources, the inferno which began at about 8.00 pm, Monday, razed down several shops, goods and other items belonging to traders and other market users.

While describing the incident as both painful and distressing, Governor Yahaya, expressed serious shock over the magnitude of destruction caused by the fire outbreak.

The Governor also acknowledged that the  incident represents a huge and unmitigated set back for the victims who he lamented have  been working hard on daily basis to eke out a living.

While sympathizing with affected traders and other users of the market, Governor Yahaya ordered the State Emergency Management Agency and other relevant authorities to immediately move into action with a view to conducting an assessment of the losses incurred by the victims, as well as an inquest to unravel the actual circumstances surrounding the incident.

This is as he commended the efforts of the rescuers, including the Gombe State Fire Service, fire fighting personnel from the Gombe state University, the Federal Fire Service, private tanker operators and other public spirited individuals and groups ,such as the Nigerian Red Cross Society for their resilience and swift response to the situation.

Governor Yahaya urged the victims to remain calm, promising that the Government will take all necessary steps to ensure that their losses are mitigated.

He, also, emphasized that the state authorities will implement measures not only  aimed at increasing the capacity of the state’s Fire Service to respond to emergency situations ,but also will consider the establishment of a state-of-the-art fire service office fully equipped to complement existing fire-fighting facilities in the State.