A fire broke out at the GSM village near Kpata market in Lokoja, Kogi State, early Thursday morning.

The fire, caused by a power surge, destroyed goods worth millions of naira.

Shop owners couldn’t save anything as the fire spread quickly and got out of control.

One of the traders, Muhammed Yahaya, who lost his goods in the fire, explained that he got a call at around 5:30 a.m. informing him about the fire. When he arrived, many shops had already been destroyed. He said, “We checked what caused the fire, and people nearby said the power voltage was too high. Their fans, lights, and other things were affected, which might have caused the fire. Goods like laptops, phones, and accessories were burnt. Some shop owners just got their goods this week. It’s shocking to all of us who have shops here.”

He urged the Kogi State Government to help those who lost their goods by offering financial assistance and rebuilding the GSM village.

“We know our Governor listens. He’s like a father to us. Many of us are young people who created our own jobs instead of waiting for the government. We’ve built our businesses for over 15 years, and everything was gone in just an hour. The government should help us financially and rebuild the market. About 200 young people are working here, and they’re all affected.”

The Financial Secretary of the Kogi Association of Phones and Accessories Dealers (KAPAD), Moses Felix, said the fire had deeply affected him physically, mentally, and emotionally.

“I was crying when my shop burned down. I couldn’t do anything. I repair and sell laptops, and all the goods I received this week are gone. I have to start over. I have a wife and kids. How will I take care of my family during this hard economic time? We need the government’s help. We create jobs for others. I employ three boys who depend on me, but now they are left without jobs.”

At the time of this report, fire service officials were still trying to put out the flames.