Fire Guts 2,275 Bags of Onions Worth ₦56.8m in Sokoto Community

A devastating fire outbreak has destroyed at least 2,275 bags of onions in Kojiyo village, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving farmers with losses estimated at ₦56.8 million.

The blaze, which erupted around 2 p.m. on Friday, razed approximately 65 traditional onion storage huts and burned for nearly seven hours before it was brought under control. No lives were lost, but the incident has dealt a severe economic blow to the agrarian community.

According to the National President of the Nigerian Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Aliyu Isah Maitasamu, each affected storage hut contained an average of 35 bags of onions. With each bag valued at about ₦25,000, the total loss was put at ₦56.8 million.

Maitasamu said the cause of the fire remains unknown, though he noted that farmers had previously been advised to avoid activities that could trigger fires, given that the storage huts are built with highly flammable materials such as dry grass and stalks.

Despite the scale of destruction, he dismissed concerns over a potential rise in onion prices, stating that the quantity lost is unlikely to significantly affect the market.

For many farmers, however, the losses are catastrophic. Abdullahi S. Rima, who lost about 210 bags, described the incident as devastating, saying all his stored produce was destroyed. Another farmer, Nura Arzika Magaji, who lost 70 bags, said his family now faces hardship, as they rely on gradual sales of stored onions for daily sustenance.

Community members say the disaster has plunged several households into distress. The village head, Muhammadu Sani Sarkin Rima, noted that some families have been left without food or income.

Local leaders and stakeholders have appealed to government agencies, including the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency, to provide urgent relief and farming support to affected residents.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the state emergency agency said it had yet to receive an official report but assured that an assessment would be conducted once notified.

Residents fear the impact could extend beyond immediate losses if farmers are unable to recover in time for the next planting season.