NEMA: Three killed in Zamfara market explosion

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says three persons lost their lives in a recent explosion in Zamfara state.

On Tuesday, several persons were severely injured following a fire outbreak at the Talata Mafara central market in the state.

In a post on X on Wednesday, NEMA said 50 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries, with 46 currently receiving medical attention at the hospital.

“The incident took place on the afternoon of February 18, 2025. Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion was triggered by the careless disposal of a cigarette remnant on gunpowder, leading to a massive fire outbreak,” NEMA said.

“The explosion resulted in significant damage, affecting 50 individuals with varying degrees of injuries.

“Three fatalities have been recorded, while 46 injured persons are receiving treatment at Usman Danfodio Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) due to the severity of their conditions.”

The agency added that its search and operations (SOO) team was swiftly deployed to access the situation.

“Upon receiving the report, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) deployed a Search and Operations (SOO) team to UDUTH to assess the situation,” the statement reads. 

“The team confirmed that victims are being treated in different hospital divisions, including the orthopedic ward, surgical unit, ICU burns unit, and ENT division.”

There has been an uptick in fire outbreaks across the country.

On February 5, at least 17 students were confirmed dead and 17 injured in a fire outbreak at an Almajiri school in Kaura-Namoda LGA of Zamfara state.