The Nigeria Labour Congress secretariat in Sokoto State was gutted by fire in the early hours of Saturday, destroying property and records accumulated over three decades.

Secretary of the council, Hamisu Hussaini Hamisu, while speaking with newsmen at the premises, said preliminary findings point to an electrical fault as the likely cause of the inferno.

“We suspect it was caused by an electrical fault. By the time the fire was noticed, it had already spread across the building,” he said.

He added that the blaze destroyed computers, printers, refrigerators, televisions, office furniture and vital records spanning decades.

“Everything was burnt. We lost documents and equipment built over many years. Nothing could be salvaged,” Hamisu said.

He added that the security guard on duty made efforts to contain the fire but was overwhelmed by its rapid spread.

The fire reportedly started around 3 am and engulfed the building before emergency responders eventually brought it under control.

Sources said firefighters arrived about an hour after the incident was reported and succeeded in putting out the flames, but not before extensive damage had been done.

The destruction has left the labour council in grief and uncertainty as members begin discussions on recovery and rebuilding efforts. (The PUNCH)