A major fire outbreak on Monday destroyed several shops and vehicles at the Sokoto Mechanic Village, popularly known as Buzaye Garage.
The fire, which reportedly started around 10 a.m., was said to have been caused by an electrical fault.
The mechanic village provides repair services to motorists in Sokoto State and neighbouring Niger Republic.
Efforts by the Federal Fire Service, Sokoto State Fire Service, and residents of the area to contain the blaze were unsuccessful, as the fire raged for several hours.
A section of the village housing Mercedes-Benz repair workshops and spare parts shops was severely affected.
Many of the vehicles destroyed were reportedly brought in by customers from Sokoto and nearby Niger Republic.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, NATA, Buzaye Unit, Engr. Abdulkadir Muhammad, said several mechanics lost their workshops and customers’ vehicles.
He noted that the exact number of shops and vehicles affected could not be determined immediately, as the fire had not been completely extinguished at the time of reporting.
Engr. Muhammad attributed the extent of the damage to the presence of inflammable materials and gas cylinders used for welding in the area.
He appealed to the Sokoto State Government to support affected members, noting that the last government intervention after a similar incident occurred more than a decade ago.
