A fire outbreak at the GSM village near Kpata Market in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, has destroyed properties worth millions of Naira – Nigeria’s local currency. The fire, which started early Thursday morning, is suspected to have been caused by a power surge.
Eyewitnesses reported that the surge affected electrical appliances in nearby houses, likely sparking the blaze that quickly spread through the market. Unfortunately, shop owners were unable to salvage their goods as the fire grew out of control.
Muhammed Yahaya, a trader at the market, described the devastation: “I was alerted around 5:30 am that the market was on fire. By the time I arrived, many shops were already burnt. The fire was reportedly triggered by high voltage power.” He explained that laptops, phones, and accessories were among the goods lost, and the fire was especially tragic since many traders had just received new stock.
Yahaya, along with other traders, has appealed to the Kogi State Government for financial assistance and support in rebuilding the market. “We are youths who have created jobs for ourselves. We hope the government listens to our plea and helps us recover from this loss,” he added.
Moses Felix, the Financial Secretary of the Kogi Association of Phones and Accessories Dealers (KAPAD), expressed deep sorrow, noting the emotional and financial toll the disaster has taken on him and other traders. “I lost everything in my shop. I have a family to support, and now, I’m back to square one,” Felix lamented.
Traders are hoping for swift government intervention to alleviate the impact of the disaster on their livelihoods. However, questions remain as to why fire prevention and fighting protocols are often missing in many of Nigeria’s commercial centers leading to recurring fire incidences of this kind.
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