Cov / Ismail Adamu, Katsina
Following the fire outbteak that gutted hundreds of shops at the Central Market in Katsina, the state government has pledged to provide relief assistance to victims of the incident.
Speaking in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Katsina, Governor Aminu Bello Masari’s spokesman, Malam Abdu Labaran disclosed that a fact finding team from the state Ministry of Commerce was already at the market to ascertain the quantum of loss incurred in the inferno.
He said officials would also take stock of the number of shops affected and the level of assistance that would be provided for victims of the calamity.
Abdu Labaran noted that Governor Masari had already directed the Ministry of Commercial to liaise with the Fire Service Department to undertake the assignment.
Meanwhile, about one hundred thieves have been arrested for looting shops during the fire incident that ravaged the Central Market.
Commander of the state Vigilante corps, Malam Salisu Rabo disclosed this to Radio Nigeria at the sidelines of the fire outbreak in the market.
He explained that the thieves who were apprehended in the midst of efforts to put out the fire, were handed over to the police for questioning and prosecution.
The Commander noted that members of the vigilante corps offered great support to men of the State and Federal Fire Service departments in the course of putting out the inferno.