Fire has destroyed about 500 shops at the popular Terminus Market in Jos, Plateau State, as traders count losses on properties worth millions of naira.
They blamed the inability of the Plateau State Fire Service to respond promptly to a night fire at the Jos Main Market due to faulty fire trucks, reports The Guardian.
Chairman of the Jos Main Market Traders Association, Mustapha Ibrahim, during a press briefing today, said the fire raged through the night, reducing numerous stalls and goods to ashes.
Ibrahim told journalists that the fire started at 11:00 pm Tuesday night and was initially contained but quickly spread due to a delay in response by the fire service.
“When we arrived at the fire service station, there were only two trucks, and both had no tyres. We had to start calling frantically for help,” he said.
According to him, it took the intervention of a fire truck from Jos South to begin any form of firefighting, by which time the fire had intensified and about 500 shops had been razed.
“They tried their best to control the fire, but it had already spread,” Ibrahim said.
When asked about the cause of the fire, Ibrahim said traders suspected a power surge from the electricity supply by the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED).
Addressing the press shortly after inspecting the incident, Joyce Ramnap, the Plateau State Commissioner for Information, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and commended the traders and security personnel who tried to contain the situation.
She also appealed for calm, urging residents of Plateau State to avoid politicizing the tragedy or spreading inflammatory remarks.
“Let us not add to the pain of the people. Every government seeks peace and prosperity, not suffering. We will get through this trying time together. Plateau government pledges support to affected traders,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Plateau State Government has expressed deep sympathy with traders affected by the devastating fire.
Ramnap described the incident as a significant blow to the state’s economic hub.
She conveyed the government’s heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families, assuring them that the state stands in solidarity with them during this difficult time.
While commending the efforts of the fire service and volunteers who worked tirelessly to contain the blaze, she called on all market stakeholders to prioritize safety and take proactive measures to prevent similar disasters in the future.
Ramnap urged affected traders to remain calm and continue to uphold peace in the state, despite the hardship they may be experiencing as a result of the inferno.
She emphasised that the Mutfwang-led administration is committed to supporting those impacted and will take steps to ease their burden.
The commissioner said Governor Caleb Mutfwang has mobilised a team to investigate the cause of the fire to forestall future occurrences and ensure the safety of marketplaces across the state.
