Hussaini Kafi in Kano
Traders of the Terminus Market, Plateau state are picking pieces remains of a devastating fire that tore through the popular market overnight, destroying hundreds of stalls and goods worth millions of naira.
The traders many of who have been rendered penniless are in tears and despair when correspondents sought to speak with them.
Scenes from the market painted a grim picture, with the distraught traders wailing and watching helplessly as their investments were consumed by flames. Some of the victims it was gathered, had recently restocked their shops with new goods in anticipation of increased sales during the public holiday.
However, an eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident is believed to have started in the section known for second-hand clothing before rapidly spreading to other parts of the market.
He said, “The fire started in the area where fairly used clothes are sold. Before we knew it, everywhere was engulfed”.
The inferno, which reportedly began late Wednesday night, caught many traders unaware and raged through the night, reducing large sections of the market to rubble.
According to
Firefighters arrived shortly after the fire broke out, but it gathered that they faced major challenges in containing the blaze due to its intensity and the highly flammable nature of the materials stored in the market.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of the fire remains unknown. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement, but the Plateau State government is expected to commence an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.
In a bid to prevent chaos, security agencies were deployed to control the crowd and prevent potential looting as emotions ran high among victims and sympathizers.
The affected traders are calling for urgent relief and compensation to help them recover from the tragedy.
