Next Cash and Carry, one of Abuja’s biggest shopping malls has been gutted by fire.
The mall which is situated in the Jahi Area of the Federal Capital Territory went up in flames around 10:00 am Sunday morning.
Thick smoke can be seen around the mall as emergency operatives tried to salvage the situation.
The cause of the fire is unknown at the time of this report.
The roads have however been closed and the fire service are still trying to contain the fire.
The Head of Search and Rescue National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Abuja, Labuan Ahman who spoke with Channels Television called on mutual aid fire services for support.
Emergency operatives try to put out the fire at Next Cash and Carry on Sunday, December 26, 2021.
“The whole of Next Cash and Carry is on fire. We have the FCT and Federal Fire Services on the ground. We are calling on all mutual aid fire services to deploy to Next Cash and Carry. The mutual aid fire services are Julius Berger, CBN, and then the Armed Forces."
“We are calling on the Armed Forces, the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, and the Army to provide support as they usually do,” Ahman said.
He stressed that they need urgent assistance to put out the fire which as at the time of this report has destroyed the major part of the entire building including the roof.
However, TheCable reported that there were attempts to loot items at the supermarket while the inferno raged on.
According to the FCT police command, three suspects were arrested while in the process of looting.
Josephine Adeh, FCT police spokesperson, said: “The suspects who made attempts to cart away goods from the store and were promptly arrested include (1) Ali Audu aged 18 Years; (2) Yahaya Yunusa aged 20 Years; and (3) Sahabi Abubakar aged 20 Years.”
Ugo Huan, spokesperson of the Federal Fire Service, has advised residents to avoid the area as firefighters are battling to put out the fire and prevent its spread.
“The service has turned out firefighters to the scene, who are currently fighting the fire,” Huan said.
“Members of the public are to take note and avoid that route.”
Huan said firefighters from over three different zones, including the FCT fire service, are at the scene.
He said the cause of the fire was not yet known as further investigation would be carried out.
Sandra Emeka, a witness at the scene, told NAN that she was at the gate of the supermarket trying to gain entrance to the compound when she noticed dark smoke coming out of the store.
“I don’t know where the fire started from or what caused it, but I just noticed the smoke and heard people around telling us to move back that there was fire,” she said.
Philip Paul, another customer, expressed sadness over the incident as he described the supermarket as a “big shopping centre”.
“It is so unfortunate this happened at this time when the store must have been stocked up for the festive season,” he said.
“This is a great loss, and I sympathise with the management of this supermarket.”
BY Channels TV and TheCable
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