A devastating fire has destroyed 2,275 bags of onions worth an estimated N56.8 million in Kojiyo community, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The fire, which affected about 65 traditional onion storage huts, reportedly broke out around 2 p.m. on Friday and burned for nearly seven hours before it was brought under control. No casualties were recorded, but the incident left farmers counting heavy losses.

The National President of the Nigerian Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Aliyu Isah Maitasamu, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, explaining that each storage hut contained about 35 bags of onions.

He said the total loss amounted to 2,275 bags at an estimated cost of N25,000 per bag, bringing the damage to about N56.8 million.

Maitasamu noted that the association has repeatedly warned farmers about fire risks associated with the use of highly flammable traditional storage structures made from dry grass and stalks.

He said investigations were ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire.

Despite the scale of destruction, he said the incident was unlikely to trigger a major rise in onion prices due to the relatively limited quantity lost compared to overall market supply.

Affected farmers, however, described the incident as devastating, saying they had lost their entire livelihoods and were left without food or income.

Some of the victims, including farmers who lost dozens of bags each, appealed for urgent government and humanitarian intervention to help them recover.

Community leaders in Kojiyo also confirmed that several households had been severely affected and called on emergency agencies such as the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency to provide relief support.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.