A devastating fire, in the early hours of Monday, razed the only market in Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, leaving residents in shock and confusion.
The inferno, which reportedly started around 3.30am shortly after the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company restored power, engulfed the market before emergency services could respond, reports Channels TV.
While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, eyewitnesses suspect it may be linked to electrical issues.
According to Vanguard, Joe, a resident of the estate who was among the first to notice the blaze, described the scene as tense and chaotic.
“I was alerted around 4am, and by then, the fire had already spread. We couldn’t immediately determine the cause, but we suspect it might be an electrical fault,” Joe said.
Efforts by residents to contact the Federal Fire Service and the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service, but they did not receive an immediate response.
However, Joe noted that the fire service attached to “Dunamis Church first arrived at the scene around 5am, 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.”
At the time of filing this report, the extent of the damage and the value of goods lost remain unclear.
Meanwhile, traders and residents now face the daunting task of assessing the ruins and piecing their lives back together.
PUNCH Online reports that authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
In June, the estate located along the Lugbe-Airport Expressway in Abuja was submerged by flood.
Videos circulating via social media on Monday revealed the situation of the estate, as some alleged that two individuals were swept away in the flood.
This is not the first time Trademore Estate has been submerged by flood.