At least five people have confirmed dead and several others sustained various degree of injuries as fire razed the popular Maitama market in kubwa, Bwari Area Council, Abuja.
The incident occurred around 7pm on Friday night where children, pregnant woman and some others were reportedly dead.
It was gathered that the fire began when a kerosene tank exploded in the market.
The entire market caught fire almost immediately as the fire was in high magnitude. The fire lifted the kerosene tank from the floor and dropped it on top of a nearby roof.
It was confirmed that the owner of the shop and her children all died instantly. While one of residents is still looking for her 17 years old daughter she sent an errand when the fire started.
However the people with injuries were taken to Kubwa general hospital.
According to a statement signed by police spokesperson Josephine Adeh, investigations commenced into the unfortunate fire incident.
“The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has commenced investigations into the unfortunate fire incident that occurred at the Kubwa Village Market of the FCT in the evening of 5th November, 2021,” the statement said.
“Preliminary investigations however revealed that two shops in the market were affected in the fire incident following a kerosene surface tank explosion. Unfortunately, the remains of five (5) persons already burnt beyond recognition were evacuated from the scene by the rescue team and taken to the hospital where they were confirm dead while ten (10) others who were seriously injured were immediately taken to the hospital and currently receiving medical attention.
“The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Babaji Sunday, who described the incident as unfortunate, has ordered a discrete investigation into the incident. The CP noted that operatives from the Forensic section of the Command Criminal Investigations Department, have also been deployed to the scene for forensic analysis to unravel the cause of the incident and more importantly provide recommendations to prevent a reoccurrence of such incident.
“The CP commiserated with the families of the victims. He noted that the inferno is under control and commended the people who were at the scene at the time for supporting in the rescue operation and general control of the fire.
“He further implores residents to report all suspicious movements, emergencies or distresses, through these numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883.”
