Authorities in Plateau State have provided further details on the fire incident that devastated the Terminus Market in Jos, confirming that more than 500 shops were consumed in the blaze. The incident, which occurred late Tuesday night, was reportedly worsened by the actions of looters who blocked emergency responders from accessing the site on time.
According to Mr. Mangna Wamyil, General Manager of Jos Main Market, the fire began at a local business center where mobile phones are charged for a fee. Preliminary findings suggest that an electrical surge triggered the fire, which rapidly spread due to the temporary and highly flammable nature of the makeshift structures in the market.
Wamyil explained that the fire service faced serious obstacles when trying to contain the blaze. “Firefighters were attacked and prevented from entering the market by hoodlums more interested in looting than in stopping the spread of the fire,” he said. “Even the security personnel who came to support them were resisted, and some of the firefighting equipment was vandalized.”
By the time order was restored and firefighting efforts could begin in earnest, the fire had already consumed vast portions of the market. The destruction has left hundreds of traders in despair, many of whom lost newly stocked goods worth millions of naira.
One affected trader, Hamisu Idris, who deals in children’s clothing, said she had just replenished her shop earlier that day. “Everything I bought is gone. My shop is now ashes,” she said. Another trader, Mohammed, who sells fairly used clothes, lamented that he had lost his entire business. “This is the second time fire is destroying my source of livelihood. I don’t know where to begin again,” he cried.
In response to the tragedy, Mr. Wamyil stated that the Plateau State Government is currently assessing the full extent of the damage and is planning to rebuild the market. The new structures, he said, will prioritize safety, including the installation of fire extinguishers and the training of traders in basic firefighting techniques.
He stressed that, going forward, market safety and emergency preparedness would be central to any reconstruction plan. “We are determined to ensure that this kind of disaster does not happen again,” he assured.
This update follows earlier reports of the fire incident and sheds more light on the contributing factors and planned recovery efforts. The state government is expected to release further details on support for affected traders in the coming days.
