Three separate fire incidents within one week have destroyed onion stocks valued at nearly ₦500 million in communities across Sokoto State, raising concerns among farmers and prompting investigations by security agencies.
The latest incident occurred in Duhuwa village on Friday, where 324 onion storage huts were razed, destroying no fewer than 5,800 bags of onions.
The fire reportedly started while residents were away observing Juma’at prayers and quickly spread through the thatched structures.
Eyewitnesses described how the blaze escalated within minutes.
“We returned from prayers and saw one hut already burning. Before we could react, the fire had spread to many others,” a local farmer recounted.
This incident follows two similar outbreaks earlier in the week. In Kojiyo village, over 2,200 bags of onions were lost, while another fire in Dundaye destroyed more than 2,000 bags within 48 hours. In total, over 10,000 bags have been consumed by the fires.
The National President of the Nigerian Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), Aliyu Isah, said the pattern of the incidents had raised suspicion.
“This is the third fire within a week. Initially, we thought they were accidental, but the repeated occurrence is becoming difficult to ignore,” he said.
He added that the association had formally notified security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services, urging a thorough investigation into the cause of the fires.
The financial impact has been significant. Losses from the Duhuwa incident alone are estimated at over ₦200 million, with cumulative damages across affected communities nearing half a billion naira.
Traders and market observers warn that the destruction could disrupt supply and trigger a spike in onion prices in the coming weeks.
Residents also pointed to infrastructural challenges that worsened the situation, noting the absence of nearby water sources and limited firefighting capacity in the rural areas.
“If there had been access to water or any emergency response system, the damage would not have been this severe,” a community member said.
