By Assan Bah
The victims of the fire outbreak that ravaged the Serrekunda Sandika have been narrating the losses they incurred to Foroyaa.
A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday, March 30, reducing over 40 sheds at the Serekunda Sandika to ashes. The blaze, which erupted in the heart of Kanifing Municipality, left scores of vendors without their livelihoods, causing widespread distress in one of the region’s most vital economic hubs.
Abubacarr Suwareh, one of the affected vendors, recounted the harrowing moment he learned about the incident. “I found out around 2 a.m. when I was at home. By the time I got here, my entire canteen was gone. I lost around D100,000 worth of goods,” he lamented. “I have small children who have stopped going to school because I can no longer afford their fees. My entire income came from my daily sales.”
Another vendor, Demba Sowe, described the immense economic impact of the fire. “The losses are beyond estimation. There are so many households that rely on the Sandika, not just locally but internationally. We have partners from Senegal, Morocco, Mali, and Guinea who do business here.”
Neneh Galleh Bah, another victim, appealed to authorities not to relocate them, fearing displacement would only deepen their suffering. “We depend on the Sandika for our survival. We pay our children’s school fees from here. I lost D40,000 worth of goods. My entire shop was burnt to ashes,” she said.
Ansumana Baldeh echoed similar concerns. “I’m left with nothing. Even getting money for fish is a problem now. We solely depended on our sales, and everything is gone.”
There is ongoing debate about the cause of the fire. Sidia Sanneh refuted claims that an electrical fault was responsible, emphasizing that the Sandika operates on a solar system. “There is no electricity connection inside the market. The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) does not allow it for fear that multiple connections might cause a fire.”
Firefighters from Banjul and Brikama eventually extinguished the blaze. However, vendors expressed frustration that fire services in Serekunda and Bakau could not assist due to lack of water. Sanneh urged the council to help clear the debris so they could resume business as soon as possible. “We cannot afford to sit idle for a week. I personally lost items worth D200,000,” he added.
Sainey Sanyang, Deputy Commissioner of the Kanifing Municipal Police and Chief of Operations at KMC, confirmed the incident. “At around 3 a.m. on March 30, 2025, we received a call from our officers on duty at the Serekunda market, informing us of a fire outbreak at the Sandika. Eyewitnesses alleged that the fire started from a spark on a nearby electric pole at the second entrance gate.”
According to Sanyang, around 50 canteens were destroyed. He urged vendors to support the council in implementing fire prevention measures, particularly in increasingly congested market areas. “The Sandika uses a solar system, but there are electric poles at the entrance. Eyewitnesses claim one of these poles ignited the fire,” he stated.
Sanyang also revealed that the council had been considering relocating the Sandika due to overcrowding and sanitation concerns. “It is no longer a viable market space—it is in the middle of a residential area, generating significant waste and inconvenience for residents. We are now setting up a task force to engage vendors and find a solution. It’s either we relocate them or temporarily move them to develop the area.”
For now, affected vendors remain uncertain about their future, anxiously waiting for support as they try to rebuild their businesses from the ashes.
