The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has explained the reason for the delay in putting out the fire that engulfed the Abuja Karu Market, News About Nigeria reports.
The acting director-general of FEMD, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, on Friday.
Recall that the Abuja Karu Market was razed down on Thursday evening.
Reacting to this, Wenegieme stated that the firemen who were activated to the scene on time were unable to gain access to the market, which is located behind the new market under construction, which led to the delay in putting out the fire.
She stated that the fire started at about 6.30 p.m, adding that it was the illegal settlement behind the new market under construction that was engulfed by fire.
Wenegieme noted that, although the team had enough firetrucks and firemen, they could not gain access to the market, so they had to break walls to have access to the firefighting hose.
She further stated that the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, adding that investigations were, however, ongoing.
“It was the illegal market or settlement behind the new market under construction that was engulfed by fire. We had enough firetrucks and firemen, but we could not gain access to the market, so we had to break walls to have access for the firefighting hose; that was what caused the delay in putting out the fire.
“No life was lost to the fire incident; goods worth millions of naira were destroyed,” she stated.
A combined team of the FCT Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, and Julius Berger Fire Service yesterday, however, contained the fire outbreak at the old Karu Market in the FCT.
The Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps were also on the ground to ensure crowd control.
Wenegieme also commended the Department of Engineering Services for activating the Julius Berger Fire Service.
