A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of Monday, destroying the only market in Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, leaving residents in shock and distress.
The fire, which reportedly started around 3:30 am, quickly spread throughout the market after the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company restored power.
Despite efforts by residents to alert emergency services, the flames had already consumed much of the market before help arrived, according to reports from Channels TV.
While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, eyewitnesses have speculated that an electrical fault may have been the cause.
Joe, a resident of Trademore Estate, who was one of the first to spot the blaze, described the situation as chaotic.
“I was alerted at 4 am, and by then the fire had already spread. We couldn’t immediately figure out the cause, but we think it might have been an electrical issue,” he said.
Attempts by residents to contact both the Federal Fire Service and the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service initially went unanswered.
However, the fire service from Dunamis Church arrived at the scene around 5 am, followed by fire crews from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Sauka Station.
After two hours, the combined efforts of the emergency responders successfully brought the fire under control, preventing it from spreading further.
As of the time of this report, the full extent of the damage and the value of goods lost in the blaze remain unclear.
Residents and traders now face the challenge of assessing the damage and recovering from the loss.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement about the incident.
This fire comes months after the estate experienced significant flooding. In June, heavy rains submerged much of the estate, leaving numerous homes inundated.
Social media videos circulating on Monday suggested that two individuals were swept away by the flood, though this remains unconfirmed.
The Trademore Estate has a history of flooding, with the June 2023 flood severely affecting over 100 homes in the area.
