A fire at Karu Market in Abuja destroyed goods worth millions of naira, leaving traders devastated. Despite a quick response, the FCT Fire Service faced challenges accessing the scene. Investigations suggest an electrical surge caused the blaze. No lives were lost, but significant property damage occurred.
A devastating fire has ravaged the Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory, causing extensive damage and leaving traders in despair. The blaze, which started on Thursday evening, destroyed goods and properties worth millions of naira. Despite a prompt response from the FCT Fire Service, their efforts were hindered by a large crowd that gathered at the scene, making access difficult.
Many traders expressed their anguish over the loss of their livelihoods. One trader lamented, “Everything has burnt down. I could not recover anything. This is where we feed from. My children’s school fees are gone.” Another trader shared, “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 don’t know where to start.”
Florence Wenegieme, Acting Director General of the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), emphasized the importance of access in firefighting operations. She noted that firefighters had to break through walls to gain access to the market, located behind a new market under construction, which caused delays in extinguishing the blaze.
“No life was lost in the fire incident, but goods worth millions of naira were destroyed,” Wenegieme confirmed. The Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army, and Civil Defense Corps were also on the scene to control the crowd and assist with the situation. Efforts are ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage and the exact circumstances leading to the fire.
