Photo: Fire at Gwagwalada International Market, Abuja — Summit Post News
A fire has gutted shops at the Gwagwalada International Market in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, and was still burning on Sunday morning after starting at around 7pm on Saturday.
Punch reported on Sunday morning that the blaze, at the market also known as Gwagwalada Main Market, was still burning, with eyewitnesses calling for urgent intervention.
- The fire started at around 7pm on Saturday and was still burning on Sunday morning
- Fire service personnel are battling to stop it spreading to unaffected shops and areas outside the market
- The cause is not yet known, and the extent of the damage has not been determined
Firefighters battle to stop the Gwagwalada fire spreading
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), whose correspondent was at the scene, reported that fire service personnel were making frantic efforts to put out the fire and prevent it spreading to shops not yet caught in the inferno, and to areas outside the market.
Security personnel cordoned off the market to prevent shop owners and hoodlums gaining access while the firefighting continued.
Gwagwalada Area Council Chairman Kasim Mohammed was at the scene to ensure things were put under control.
What is not yet known about the Gwagwalada market fire
NAN reported that the cause is not yet known. An eyewitness told the agency it was most likely an electrical fault, although that claim has yet to be confirmed.
As at the time of the reports, the extent of the damage and the number of shops affected had not been determined, and no casualty had been reported in either account.
What happens next
Traders are expected to count their losses once the fire is fully put out and shop owners are allowed back in, while investigators establish how the blaze started.
NewsTweetNaija will update this story in place as officials confirm the damage and any casualties.
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Sources: Punch; News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reported by Realnews Magazine and Summit Post News; Daily Post. Follow @newstweetnaija for more.
