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From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
Traders at the Mile Six market in Jalingo, Taraba State, are counting losses in millions of naira after a Sunday night inferno destroyed a block of shops housing various businesses.
An eyewitness, Mr Yakubu Sunday, said the cause of the fire is unknown but that it spread very fast and intensely, making it difficult to salvage anything.
“We were gisting with friends close to the main road when we heard shouts of ‘fire’. By the time we got there, the entire building was on fire and because of the breeze, the intensity of the flames made it almost impossible to salvage anything or to control it.
“Neighbours and market people scrambled with water, sand and anything they could to help and put out the fire but it was too late. All the shops got burnt with their wares inside. It was Sunday and most people don’t open on Sundays so they had to come from their homes to see the destruction,” he narrated.
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Moses Baba, who operates a laundry shop at the ill-fated shopping complex, said he has lost millions to the inferno.
“I was spending time with my family at home late evening yesterday when I got a distress call that I should rush to the shop immediately. On arriving, I watched helplessly as my shop was completely engulfed by the flames.
“As it is now, I have people’s clothes that I have prepared and they were expected to pick them this morning. Some of them came early this morning only to see that the shop is gone. We are talking about clothes worth millions. I am not even talking about my washing machines, electric irons, pressing tables and so many other things that were in the shop. I just don’t know where to start from honestly.”
Our correspondent reports that incidents of fire outbreaks have become very regular and are worsening in Jalingo, to such an extent that the state governor, Agbu Kefas, recently set up a committee to investigate the development and proffer solutions.
There have been more than twenty incidents in Jalingo between January and now.
