A devastating fire tore through a block of 39 open shops at the Kaura Modern Market in Abuja on Friday night, leaving behind charred remains and ruined livelihoods.
The fire, which was reportedly triggered by an electrical spark, began around 11 pm and raged uncontrollably until the early hours of Saturday.
The inferno, which engulfed the market for nearly three hours, was finally subdued by a combined team of firefighters from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service (FFS), who worked tirelessly to contain the blaze.
When contacted, MT Ibrahim, the spokesperson for the FCT Fire Service, confirmed the incident and provided details on the extent of the damage.
“The fire was caused by an electrical spark on a power changeover installed in one of the shops. The presence of a generator with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) inside the shop where the fire started aggravated the situation,” he explained.
The inferno consumed a wide array of goods, leaving shop owners devastated. Items lost in the fire included foodstuffs, generators, refrigerators, fruits, umbrellas, electrical appliances, household items, and parts of the roof.
In the aftermath of the fire, Engr. Adebayo Zacchaeus, the Acting Director of FCT Fire Service, commended the firefighters for their swift and coordinated response, which prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the market.
The incident has raised concerns among market traders and residents about the safety of electrical installations and the storage of flammable materials within commercial premises. Authorities are expected to launch an investigation into the fire to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies.