A fire outbreak in the early hours of Monday destroyed the only market in Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, leaving residents in confusion and disarray.
The blaze, which reportedly started around 3:30 a.m., shortly after the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company restored power, engulfed the market before emergency responders arrived. While the exact cause remains unknown, eyewitnesses suspect electrical issues might have triggered the fire.
Joe, a resident of the estate and one of the first witnesses to the incident, described the scene as intense and alarming. “I was alerted around 4 a.m., and by then, the fire had already spread. We couldn’t immediately determine the cause, but we suspect it might be an electrical fault,” he said.
Efforts by residents to contact the Federal Fire Service and the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service initially yielded no response. However, firefighters from Dunamis Church arrived around 5 a.m., followed by teams from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Sauka Station, who joined forces to contain the blaze.
Two hours after the fire began, emergency responders managed to extinguish the flames and prevent further damage.
The incident has left residents in shock, with many calling for improved emergency response systems and measures to prevent similar disasters in the future.
