By John Bassey, Gusau
Zamfara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ZACCIMA) has sympathised with victims of a fire outbreak in Gusau Central Market, Zamfara State.
Goods estimated at N350 million were burnt in the inferno which gutted the facility in the early hours of Tuesday, April 8.
ZACCIMA president, Alhaji (Dr) Hassan Buhari Tafida, paid a courtesy visit to traders at the market, especially those who deal in traditional medicine and provision stores, who were the major victims of the inferno.
Represented by his deputy, Alhaji Chika Abubakar Galadima, the president, who holds the traditional title of Maradun Sarkin Rafin Gusau, said the chamber purposely decided to visit them to sympathise and advise victims to see the development as an act of God Almighty.
He further described it as a test by Allah (SWT) to assess their faith, pointing out that if they accept the development, they will see positive results in the near future.
The president reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to the needs of members and continued support to recent initiatives embarked upon by State Governor Dauda Lawal to assist registered businessmen so as to enhance economic activities in the North-West State.
He urged the victims to visit ZACCIMA for possible solution to their current plight and called on philanthropists as well as well-to-do individuals to visit the market and assist the victims to recover.
Earlier , the Managing Director of Gusau Central Market, Alhaji Salihu Shinkafi, thanked ZACCIMA for the visit.
Shinkafi revealed that the inferno started about 1am, adding that through divine intervention and the deployment of fire extinguishers, the magnitude of losses was minimized.
Speaking, one of the victims, who identified himself simply as Alhaji Naziru, who lost items worth several millions of Naira, said that he has accepted the misfortune in good faith.
To him, it was an examination by heaven to test him after the month-long Ramadan fast and prayers.
