A fire outbreak that occurred around midnight on Wednesday has destroyed more than 500 makeshift shops at the Terminus Market in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Mrs Joyce Ramnap, Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communications, confirmed the incident during a visit to the market site.
“According to eyewitness accounts, particularly from the market leadership, the fire may have been triggered by an electrical spark,” she said. “However, we will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the actual cause.”
Ramnap expressed sadness over the scale of the destruction, describing it as a significant economic loss to the state. She extended the government’s sympathy to the affected traders and assured them of support.
“This is deeply unfortunate. More than 500 shops have been gutted by fire — it’s a massive blow to our local economy,” she added.
The commissioner also cautioned residents against spreading unverified information about the fire on social media, urging the public to await official updates.
Chairman of the market, Mr Mustapha Ibrahim, lamented the extent of the losses suffered by traders and appealed for government assistance to help those affected recover.
(NAN)