An inferno has destroyed 30 shops at the new modern market in Lafia, Nasarawa State, causing millions of naira in damage.

The fire started around 9:30 pm on Thursday and continued into the early hours of Friday. Firefighters from the Nasarawa State Fire Service struggled to control the blaze due to piles of refuse around the market, which intensified the fire.

Eyewitnesses said nobody could figure out the remote cause of the incident, noting that the razed shops were built with wood.

It was further gathered that most of the shops destroyed contained new sewing machines, while others belonged to traders selling shoes and clothes.

The fire was finally extinguished between 8:00 am and 9:15 am on Friday.
Ombogus-Joshua, Director of Fire Service in Nasarawa, confirmed the fire and urged the public to be cautious with electrical appliances and avoid indiscriminate waste dumping.

He added, “The inferno began at about 9:30 pm on Thursday and continued till the following morning, leaving properties worth millions of naira destroyed.”