Late Tuesday night, a fire tore through sections of the Jos Main Market in Plateau State, reducing shops and goods worth millions of naira to ashes. The blaze reportedly started around 11 p.m. while residents were asleep, catching many traders unprepared and leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
Shop owners arrived to find their businesses in ruins. Some attempted to salvage what was left, while others stood in shock, mourning their losses. The cause of the fire is still unclear, though preliminary remarks by Mustapha Ibrahim, Chairman of the Jos Market Association, suggested it might have been triggered by an electrical spark.
State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, visited the scene to assess the damage and offer condolences. She confirmed that a full investigation would be launched to determine the cause of the fire. Ramnap described the incident as a major setback to the state’s commercial activities, expressing the government’s sympathy for those affected.
Although the response time of the Fire Service was questioned by some, including trader Abdullahi Usman, officials and volunteers were eventually able to contain the blaze. Ramnap acknowledged their effort, calling their intervention “brave and timely.”
Authorities have now urged all market stakeholders to prioritize safety protocols to prevent future disasters. As of the time of this report, cleanup efforts were ongoing, and traders with partially damaged stalls were seen trying to retrieve whatever goods they could from the debris.
