A devastating fire broke out late Sunday night at Katako Market in Jos, Plateau State, destroying property worth millions of naira. The inferno, which started before 11 p.m., razed several sections of the market, including timber sheds and furniture shops, despite efforts by firefighters and residents to contain it.
Traders Count Losses
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but the destruction has left many traders reeling. One of the affected traders, Abdulsalam Abdullahi, described the incident as a major setback, especially during challenging economic times. He urged stakeholders to work together to address the recurring fire incidents, which have plagued the market in recent years.
“This is becoming a yearly disaster,” Abdullahi lamented, calling for measures to prevent future occurrences.
Fire Service’s Response
The Director of the Plateau State Fire Service, Caleb Polit, praised the swift response of his team and the Federal Fire Service in limiting the damage. Despite the extensive loss of goods, Polit expressed relief that no lives were lost in the incident.
“Our office at Masallachi Juma’a received the distress call at exactly 10:49 p.m. My men immediately alerted the rapid response team at the Federal Fire Service. Fire trucks from the Government House and Bukuru stations were also deployed to the scene,” Polit explained.
He added, “One truck from the Federal Fire Service completed four trips of water, while our two trucks did three trips each to control the fire. The furniture section and timber sheds suffered the most damage. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.”
Call for Preventive Measures
The Katako Market has experienced frequent fire incidents in the past, raising concerns among traders and stakeholders. Many are calling for improved fire prevention measures, including better infrastructure, enhanced firefighting resources, and stricter adherence to safety protocols.
This latest disaster underscores the need for collaborative efforts between the government, market authorities, and traders to safeguard one of Plateau State’s major trading hubs.
