A fire outbreak has engulfed parts of Gwagwalada Main Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), destroying shops and raising concerns among traders as emergency responders work to contain the inferno.
The fire reportedly started at about 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, and was still burning when videos of the incident emerged on social media.
Footage shared by an eyewitness, Sani Usman Zakariyya, showed flames spreading through sections of the market, prompting calls for urgent intervention by the relevant authorities.
In the video, the eyewitness appealed to emergency agencies to respond quickly and prevent the fire from spreading to other sections of the market.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that personnel of the Federal Fire Service were at the scene battling the flames and making efforts to protect shops and surrounding areas that had not been affected.
Security personnel also restricted access to the market to prevent unauthorised entry and protect traders’ property during the emergency operation.
The Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Kasim Mohammed, was also present at the scene to monitor the situation and ensure that efforts to contain the fire were coordinated.
Although an electrical fault was mentioned by an eyewitness as a possible cause of the outbreak, the claim has not been officially confirmed.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of the fire, the number of shops affected and the estimated value of property destroyed had not been established. There were also no confirmed reports of casualties.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about fire prevention, emergency response and safety measures in busy commercial markets, where outbreaks can quickly threaten businesses and traders’ livelihoods.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and assess the extent of the damage.
