A fire outbreak in the early hours of Wednesday gutted the popular wood market in Jabi, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, destroying several shops and property valued at millions of naira.
The blaze, reportedly starting around dawn, sent plumes of smoke across nearby neighbourhoods as residents and traders watched helplessly while the fire rapidly consumed densely packed shops filled with wood, tools, and finished products, intensifying the inferno.
Firefighters from the Federal Fire Service and the FCT Fire Service responded promptly to distress calls and battled the flames, eventually bringing the fire under control.
An official from the FCT Fire Service confirmed that no casualties had been reported as of press time and stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
Affected traders lamented the loss of equipment, building materials, and finished wood products, calling on the government to provide urgent assistance to help them rebuild their businesses.
Authorities also assured that a comprehensive damage assessment would be conducted soon and urged market operators to enhance compliance with fire prevention measures.
They emphasized that strict adherence to safety practices is crucial in markets dealing with highly flammable materials to prevent similar disasters in the future.
