In the busy Ugbowo area of Benin, Edo state capital, a destructive fire outbreak wreaked havoc by consuming four shops, located opposite the university of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
According to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the fire began around 2pm in a shop specializing in Hospital and Laboratory equipment before swiftly spreading to adjacent shops within the same building.
Despite the efforts of the Federal Fire Service, University of Benin Fire Service (UNIBEN), and UBTH’s fire department, the blaze proved difficult to extinguish.
Residents and shop owners joined forces in a frantic attempt to salvage some of the merchandise from the engulfed shops.
Recounting the incident, Mr. Sunday Madubuko, who owns a Boutique in the vicinity, stated that the fire originated in a neighboring laboratory equipment shop.
Madubuko narrated, “The laboratory shop’s salesgirl rushed to my boutique, informing me about the fire outbreak in their office. Unfortunately, I was not equipped with a fire extinguisher, and before I knew it, the flames had reached my establishment.”
He continued, “The fire started in the laboratory shop and quickly spread to other shops. The cause of the fire remains unknown to me. The total loss from the inferno is estimated at over N20,000,000 in goods for my boutique.”
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Fire Service, Asimu Sumaila, mentioned that the firefighting team was actively present at the scene. However, a comprehensive report from the operational commander was still pending.
Sumaila assured the media that he would provide further details on the fire outbreak as soon as he received an update from the operational team.
It is worth noting that a similar fire incident occurred on Tuesday, April 23, where over 20 shops were destroyed in a building at Ekiosa market, situated at third junction, Murtala Muhammed Way in Benin.