A section of the popular Abuja market, Wuse Market, on Tuesday was set ablaze by suspected angry traders and touts over the killing of a suspect.
The incident occurred when a suspect being tried in the market mobile court attempted to escape and was shot and killed by a police officer.
The Public Relations Officer of Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), the manager of the market, Innocent Amaechina, confirmed the incident.
He said their office and other shops, as well as some cars, were burnt.
It was gathered that a suspect, who was being tried in the market mobile court, attempted to run away and was shot and killed by the police.
This provoked attackers to burn down some shops and vehicles in the car park within the market.
The incident resulted in a stampede in the market as people scampered to salvage their lives and property.
In a video obtained by DAILY GIST, men from FCT Fire Service were seen putting out the fire while the police cordoned off the area.
While the exact number of injuries sustained in the stampede was not clear, people scaled fences and pushed through gates to escape.
However, Nkechi Isa, Head of Public Affairs of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), confirmed that at least 10 shops were razed down during the fire incident at the Wuse Market in Abuja.
Isa noted that the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.
She, however, said the fire was brought under control by a combined team of the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, and Julius Berger Fire Department.
The FEMA spokesperson said the agency received a distress call on the 112 emergency toll-free number at 4.05 pm about the fire incident at the market.
She added that the Agency, being the lead coordinating body for all emergencies in the FCT, thereafter, activated its stakeholders to ensure maximum response.
Isa identified the stakeholders as the FCT Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency, FCT Police Command, and Julius Berger Fire Service.
The acting Director General of FEMA, Mr Mohammed Sabo, appealed to FCT residents to equip their homes and business places with basic firefighting equipment like extinguishers and fire blankets.
Sabo noted that the 10 shops affected by the fire incident did not have a fire extinguisher.
He also noted that access to Wuse market was unhampered allowing the fire trucks to effectively fight the fire.
He advised market management to put a fire tinder in place to prevent loss of properties during fire outbreaks.
Sabo also urged FCT residents to avoid storing petroleum products and other combustible items in their homes.
He called on residents to always use the 112-emergency toll-free number in the event of an emergency.
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