Property worth millions of Naira were in the early hours of Thursday destroyed in a devastating fire that gut down several shops at Gada Biu Market in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Eyewitnesses told The Eagle Online that the fire, which broke out around 4am, was caused by an upsurge from the transformer in the market.
It was further compounded by bursting gas cylinders used for operating the mechanical engines in the market.
No life was lost in the incident, but a woman, whose identity could not be obtained as at press time, slumped and fainted as a result of the damages caused by the disaster to her shop.
Items destroyed included grinding engines of various categories, grains and several assorted items like groundnut and palm oil stored in jerry cans.
Some youths who were seen at the scene trying to assist in putting off the fire.
Moses Bitrus and one Emma blamed the fire service men over laxity in carrying out their legitimate responsibilities.
Bitrus said: “When the fire started around 4am, we rushed to the service station at Gada Biu satellite market but they told us that they had no water in the tank.
“Before the service men at the headquarters could come, the fire had already caused a huge damage.”
The Eagle Online reports that some youths took advantage of the situation to cart away valuables.
Some of them were, however, arrested by security operatives.
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