A fire outbreak at the Old Airport Junction in Jos, Plateau State, caused significant destruction on Wednesday, burning down several shops and offices. The incident has left many business owners devastated as they try to calculate their losses.
The fire reportedly started around 4:00 p.m., sparking immediate panic and a wave of emergency calls to local fire services in Jos South and Jos North Local Government Areas. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with flames rapidly engulfing the affected area.
An observer, John Michael, shared his experience: “I came out of my office and saw fire everywhere. I don’t know the actual cause, but I immediately contacted the fire service. Thankfully, they mobilized their teams who are currently trying to extinguish the fire.”
Mr. Silas Dung, Chairman of Jos South Local Government Area, confirmed the incident. He stated, “I have just been informed about the fire, and I am currently at the scene to assess the situation.”
According to a fire service official who requested anonymity, fire crews responded promptly to the emergency. “Once we received the report, our team was dispatched to the location. We have managed to put out the fire to prevent it from spreading further,” the official explained.
This tragedy comes only weeks after another fire at Katako Timber Market in Jos North, where over 107 shops were destroyed. That incident left over 200 people, mostly carpenters, struggling to recover from losses valued at over ₦1 billion.
