Fire Guts Popular Market In Minna, Destroys Property Worth Millions Of Naira
The fire, which broke out on Monday morning ravaged a furniture store, a gas cylinder shop, and parts of a nearby motel.
A fire outbreak at Tunga Market in Minna, Niger State, has destroyed several shops and properties worth millions of naira.
The fire, which broke out on Monday morning ravaged a furniture store, a gas cylinder shop, and parts of a nearby motel.
SaharaReporters gathered that the situation worsened when some youths in the area, frustrated by the delayed arrival of the fire service, became hostile towards emergency responders.
An eyewitness told SaharaReporters that the fire ignited suddenly, prompting individuals to alert the fire service.
However, it reportedly took over 30 minutes for the firefighters to reach the scene. Frustrated by the delay, angry youths began stoning the firefighters and chanting “ba mu so” (we don’t want you).
The fire service driver, fearing for his safety, fled to Ostrich Bakery, while efforts by community elders to calm the youths were unsuccessful.
The hostility forced the firefighters to return to their base, leaving the residents to fight the fire with limited resources.
As the blaze intensified, locals struggled to contain it, scrambling for water. Despite the arrival of a water tanker from a nearby construction company, the lack of a long hose made their efforts largely ineffective. The flames spread, causing further damage to nearby properties.
An eyewitness urged the public to be more patient and not take the law into their own hands during emergencies.
“The youths’ ignorance and aggression worsened the situation, leading to devastating losses for shop owners and business operators.
“The fire service may have been delayed, but their presence was still critical in containing the fire. We must learn to give others the benefit of the doubt and work together in times of crisis,” the eyewitness added.
