A devastating fire swept through Masaka Market in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, destroying an unspecified number of shops and goods worth millions of naira.
The incident occurred late Friday night, leaving traders in despair and causing significant economic losses.
The inferno reportedly began around 11:45 p.m. in a commercial bathroom known locally as “kidan wanka” and rapidly spread to nearby shops.
Sections of the market dealing in perishable items and electronics were particularly affected, with no items salvaged due to the intensity of the flames.
Many traders have been left in ruins by the disaster.
Musa Hudu, one of the victims, expressed his sorrow over the unexpected incident, saying it had shattered his business expansion plans. Traders lamented that the fire erupted when everyone had already retired for the night, making it difficult to contain the flames or rescue goods.
John Samuel, another trader, highlighted the inadequacy of fire services in the area as a major contributor to the scale of the destruction. He noted that firefighters only arrived hours later, around 2:00 a.m., by which time the fire had already consumed most of the market.
He called on the government to provide adequately equipped fire service stations across the state’s markets to prevent future disasters.
The Director of the Nasarawa State Fire Service, Builder Ombogus-Joshua, confirmed the incident, stating that his team faced logistical challenges as their vehicle had broken down, delaying their response.
He assured the public that investigations were underway to determine the cause of the fire and the total number of shops affected.
This tragic event adds to the growing list of fire disasters in the state.
Just weeks earlier, on December 5, 2024, a fire broke out in the Tailoring Section of the Modern Market in Lafia, destroying over 30 shops.
In response to such recurrent incidents, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly recently passed a bill to establish the Nasarawa State Fire and Rescue Service Agency. The law aims to improve fire safety and equip firefighters to respond more effectively to emergencies.
Speaker Danladi Jatau, during the announcement of the bill’s passage, emphasized its importance in safeguarding lives and property across the state.
Traders affected by the Masaka Market fire have appealed to both the government and well-meaning individuals for assistance in rebuilding their businesses and recovering from the devastating loss.
