The popular Monday market in Maiduguri is said to have caught fire in the early hours of Sunday.
According to eyewitnesses, the market at the Post Office Area in the heart of Maiduguri metropolis caught fire at 1.30 a.m.
"From where I am standing at the post office here, I can still see thick smoke and flames from the market. "Security personnel have cleared the area, and no one can enter the market," Adeyemi, an eyewitness, told our correspondent on Monday.
According to sources, it is unclear what started the fire, but some believe it was caused by an electrical spark.
Some people believe a spark of electricity occurred as a result of faulty electricity connection.
The issue of a terrorist attack on the market was also ruled out by security agents.
“This is a case of arson and I doubt much if it’s a terrorist attack, ” a security source who does not want his name printed informed.
Prime9jaOnline gathered that traders were stranded while some of them were traumatised by the incident.