2nd September, 2014
Property worth millions of naira have been razed by fire at the Lafia main market on Doma Road.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fire, which started in the early hours of Tuesday, destroyed 15 shops and other valuables.
A witness, Mohammed Usman, said some goods burnt by the fire included shoes, cosmetics, clothing, jewelries, and traveling bags, among others.
When NAN visited the market, people were seen assisting the shop owners to put out the fire.
They attributed the cause of the fire outbreak to high voltage in power supply.
Some of the victims, Messrs Chukwubendi Obedu, and Danbaba Master bemoaned their losses.
They said they tried to put out the fire but failed as they could not access at the time.
They appealed to government and kind hearted individuals to come to their aid to enable them to re-stock their shops.
Police spokesman, ASP Ismail Noman, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation into the cause had commenced.
The Special Adviser on National Integration to Gov. Tanko Al-Makura, Mr Ezedinma Chikunonso-David, enjoined the victims to take heart and promised to take the matter to the appropriate authority.
He described the incident as a colossal loss, and urged the shop owners to relocate to the modern market with a view to decongesting the main market.