Fire razed down more than 500 shops the popular Masaka market in Karu Area Local Government of Nasarawa State as as the traders counted their losses in hundred of millions of naira.
The inferno, Tribune Online reports started between 11:30 pm and 11:45 pm on Friday night as Abuja Electric Distribution Company (AEDC) restored light which resulted in a spark in one of the shops from where it spread to others resulting in unquantifiable loss.
Traders were seen wailing and weeping and making last minute efforts to retrieve whatever is left of their goods from their shops. It was however an irony of fate for Baban Bola (scrap collector) who bombarded the fire site in their numbers to pick iron and metals which they took to pantaker fairly-used market to sell.
The burnt market was host to different types of goods such as cosmetics, clothings, phone accessories, fruits and foodstuff, consumables, provisions, abattoir and others.
A resident of the area who gave his name as Francis while speaking with Tribune Online said, “The fire started when AEDC restored power around that 11:30 pm or 11:45 pm on Friday when everyone had left the market and would be sleeping in their houses.
“It was so unfortunate what has happened. You can see people trying to salvage what is left of their goods. They went home with peace of mind yesterday and just few hours, they are already counting their losses in hundreds of millions of naira.
“I can tell you that more than 500 shops were consumed by this fire. It could have consumed more but for saving grace of other traders and people around the market who rallied round to save the situation on ground. Imagine what has happened with the situation of things in the country. Where will they start from? Most of the traders are on loans. I pity them.”
None of the traders was ready to speak with Tribune Online but sympathisers, as at the time of filing this report, has besieged the market in their numbers and were seen discussing the unfortunate situation in groups.
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