A tragic fire broke out in the only market of Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, early Monday morning, leaving residents in shock and confusion. The blaze started around 3:30 am, shortly after power was restored by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company. Emergency services were not able to respond in time to prevent the market from being engulfed by the fire.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but witnesses suspect it could be related to electrical issues. A resident named Joe, who was among the first to notice the fire, described the scene as tense and chaotic. Efforts to reach the Federal Fire Service and the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service did not yield an immediate response, but firefighters from Dunamis Church, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Sauka Station eventually arrived to bring the situation under control two hours later.
The extent of the damage and the value of goods lost are currently unknown, leaving traders and residents to face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. Authorities have not yet issued an official statement about the incident. This is not the first time Trademore Estate has faced a disaster; in June, the estate was flooded after heavy rain, with reports of houses being submerged and individuals swept away.
The community is now left to assess the aftermath and recover from this devastating event.