Fire guts plaza in FCT council, destroys valuables
A fire has gutted a one-story shopping mall popularly known as King Best Plaza 360, located at the Jeremiah Useni junction in Old Kutunku, Gwagwalada in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT. Abuja Metro learnt that the inferno destroyed valuables worth millions of naira. Witnesses said the incident occurred around 11:34 am last Thursday, primarily affecting […]
Fire guts plaza in FCT council, destroys valuables
A fire has gutted a one-story shopping mall popularly known as King Best Plaza 360, located at the Jeremiah Useni junction in Old Kutunku, Gwagwalada in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.
Abuja Metro learnt that the inferno destroyed valuables worth millions of naira.
Witnesses said the incident occurred around 11:34 am last Thursday, primarily affecting electronics and boutique shops.
A witness, Ifeanyi Fabian, said the fire broke out from the rooftop of one of the shops before spreading to the rest of the building.
He noted that two shops were razed instantly, adding that the cause of the fire remains unknown, especially as there was no electricity at the time of the incident.
“I only saw thick smoke billowing from the roof and I quickly alerted the shop owners,” he said.
Another witness, Fabian Azuka, suspected the fire might have originated from solar panels installed on the building’s roof.
“If you observe, solar panels are installed on the rooftop; I suspect they may have caused the outbreak,” he said.
He noted that no lives were lost and no injuries were reported, adding that men of the fire service responded swiftly to contain the blaze.
One of the victims, Mr. Gabriel Emma, whose boutique was razed, expressed shock over the incident.
He stated that he was still unable to ascertain the cause of the fire, adding that he had just returned from Onitsha, Anambra State, three days ago, where he purchased clothes and shoes worth over N4.8 million—all of which were lost to the flames.
“What can I say? I cannot question God for what has happened. I still thank God that I am alive. I just returned from the Onitsha market three days ago with goods worth over N4.8 million, and they are all gone,” he lamented.
Abuja Metro reports that the incident drew a crowd of passersby who watched helplessly until the fire service arrived to extinguish the flames.
It was observed that the second shop affected contained electronic gadgets, including deep freezers, fans, and other appliances.
An official of the fire service, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told our reporter that while no lives were lost, a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the actual cause of the blaze.
“Some people are suggesting that since the fire started at the roof, the solar panels might be responsible. However, we cannot confirm that until investigations are concluded,” the official said.