A fire broke out at Katako Market in Jos, Plateau State, on Sunday night, destroying parts of the market and causing a huge loss to traders. The fire started just before 11 pm, when most residents had already gone to bed. Despite efforts to control the flames, several goods, including planks, furniture, and other items, were completely destroyed.

Traders are frustrated by the incident, as Katako Market has experienced similar fires in the past. Abdulsalam Abdullahi, one of the affected traders, shared that the cause of the fire is still unknown. He expressed concern about the growing number of fire incidents in the market, especially during tough times, and called for better cooperation among all stakeholders to prevent such events in the future.

Fortunately, despite the extensive damage, no lives were lost. Caleb Polit, the Director of the Plateau State Fire Service, praised the efforts of both the fire service and local residents who worked together to stop the fire from spreading further. While the property damage is significant, it is a relief that everyone is safe.

His words, “Our office at Masallachi Juma’a was called at exactly 10.49 pm. My men reached out to the rapid response at the Federal Fire Service while our fire trucks at the Government House and the Bukuru stations were also deployed to the scene.

“One truck from the Federal Fire Service did about four trips of water and our two trucks did three trips each before the fire was controlled. The furniture section and the timber sheds were the worst hit, and we suspect the fire started from there. We are still investigating to know the cause of the fire and other things.”