An early morning devastating fire swept through the only market in Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, on Monday, leaving residents in shock.
The fire, which began about 3:30 am after the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company restored power, rapidly engulfed the market before emergency responders could arrive.
Efforts by residents to contact the Federal Fire Service and the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service did not receive an immediate response.
While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, eyewitnesses suspect it may be linked to electrical issues.
One of the first residents to spot the fire, whose name was simply given as Joe, described the scene as extremely tense and chaotic.
He said: “I was alerted around 4 am, and by then, the fire had already spread. We couldn’t immediately determine the cause, but we suspect it might be an electrical fault.
“Dunamis Church first arrived at the scene around 5 am, followed closely by firefighters from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Sauka Station.
“Two hours after the fire began, emergency responders finally brought the situation under control, extinguishing the flames and preventing their further spread.”
Traders and residents are now left to assess the ruins and begin the challenging process of rebuilding their lives.
As of the time of this report, the full extent of the damage and the value of goods lost had yet to be ascertained.
So far, authorities have not released an official statement on the incident.
Details shortly…
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