A massive fire ravaged the New Modern Market in Lafia, Nasarawa State, destroying tailoring shops and goods worth millions of naira.The fire outbreak occurred on Thursday night at approximately 9:30 pm and continued until the early hours of Friday. A visit to the scene by our correspondent revealed the extent of the damage.
Efforts by the Nasarawa State Fire Service to extinguish the flames were delayed due to large piles of refuse in and around the market. The intense heat from the fire repeatedly forced firefighters to retreat, hindering their ability to contain the situation.
Musa Abdullahi, a shop owner whose business was destroyed in the blaze, stated that the exact cause of the fire remained unknown. Abdullahi reported that he was not present when the fire started, but he received a call informing him of the incident.Abdullahi disclosed that at least 30 shops were destroyed in the inferno, with approximately 70% of them being tailoring shops containing new sewing machines. The affected shop owners are now counting their losses.
Builder Ombogus-Joshua, Director of the Nasarawa State Fire Service, confirmed the incident, stating that his team received a distress call at around 9:30 pm on Thursday and promptly deployed firefighters to the scene.
“Forty new sewing machines were delivered on Thursday morning, and they were all destroyed in the fire, alongside three shops belonging to my father. Other affected shops include those selling shoes and clothes,” he said.
Ombogus-Joshua, however, disputed the claim that 30 shops were affected, but he did not provide an exact figure, citing ongoing investigations into the incident. The fire service is working to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.
The incident has left many shop owners in a state of distress, with some calling for support from the government and other well-meaning individuals. The market has been a hub of economic activity in the state, and the fire outbreak has dealt a significant blow to the livelihoods of many traders.
Source: https://dailytrust.com
