A devastating fire swept through Masaka Market in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State late Friday night, reducing goods worth millions of naira to ashes and leaving traders in despair.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire began around 11:45 pm in a public bathing area, locally known as “kidan wanka.” The flames quickly spread to nearby shops, engulfing sections selling perishable goods and electronics. The exact cause of the inferno remains unclear, but traders and residents said the situation was worsened by the absence of immediate firefighting services.
Musa Hudu, a shop owner who lost everything in the blaze, described the night as a nightmare. “For now, no one can say exactly how many shops were destroyed. The situation was tragic because we couldn’t save any of the items due to the intense heat,” he told PUNCH. Hudu expressed fears about the future, noting that the loss of their businesses would leave many families struggling to survive.
John Samuel, another affected trader, criticized the lack of fire service preparedness in the area. According to him, firefighters did not arrive until nearly 2:00 am, by which time most of the market had been destroyed. “I urge the government to ensure that fire service personnel, properly equipped, are posted to every market in the state,” he told PUNCH.
Builder Ombogus-Joshua, the Director of the Nasarawa State Fire Service, confirmed receiving the distress call at 11:45 pm but said their vehicle broke down, delaying their response. He assured that investigations were ongoing to assess the full extent of the damage.
This tragedy is the second fire incident in the state this month. On December 5, a similar blaze destroyed at least 30 shops at the Tailoring Section of the Modern Market in Lafia.
In response to these recurring incidents, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly recently passed a bill to establish the Nasarawa State Fire and Rescue Service Agency. The Speaker, Danladi Jatau, stated that the new law aims to provide modern firefighting equipment and improve emergency response across the state.
