A devastating fire has struck Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory, causing significant destruction and loss.
As of the time of reporting, goods and properties worth millions of naira have been reduced to ashes, leaving traders and shoppers in a state of despair. The FCT Fire Service, with a station in Karu Market, responded to the incident but faced challenges in accessing the scene due to the large crowd of onlookers.
Traders, who have lost their wares in the inferno, were seen wailing uncontrollably over their losses. “Everything has burnt down. I could not recover anything. This is where we feed from. My children’s school fees are there,” one trader cried. “I cannot hold myself, I am in pain – I don’t know if the government can help us. My money that has gone here is over ₦10 million. I am tired and I don’t know where to start,” another trader lamented.
Despite the challenges, soldiers were on the ground to maintain order and ensure the safety of everyone involved. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by an electrical surge, which quickly spread and engulfed parts of the market. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but it is clear that the fire has had a significant impact on the community.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and officials are working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the outbreak. The FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has underscored the importance of access in firefighting operations. The Acting Director General of FEMD, Florence Wenegieme, disclosed this following the fire at the old Karu Market.
According to a statement by the Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, a combined team of the FCT Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, and Julius Berger Fire Service contained the fire. Wenegieme noted that the fire started at about 6:30 pm and that firefighters were delayed in gaining access to the market due to its location behind a new market under construction.
“It was the illegal market/settlement behind the new market under construction that was engulfed by fire. We had enough firetrucks and firemen, but we could not gain access to the market, so we had to break walls to have access to the firefighting hose, which caused the delay in putting out the fire,” she explained.
Wenegieme added that while no lives were lost, goods worth millions of naira were destroyed, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire. The Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army, and Civil Defense Corps were also present to ensure crowd control.
