A fire broke out at Katako Market in Jos, Plateau State, on Sunday night, destroying property worth millions of Naira. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The incident, which occurred shortly before 11 p.m. when most residents had already gone to bed, affected several sections of the market, including areas with planks, furniture, and other goods. Despite efforts to control the blaze, significant losses were recorded.
A trader, Abdulsalam Abdullahi, expressed his frustration, describing the fire as a major setback, especially in these challenging times. He also called for collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to prevent such incidents, which have become an almost yearly occurrence at the market.
The Director of the Plateau State Fire Service, Caleb Polit, praised the swift response of firefighters and the support from citizens in containing the blaze. He noted that, despite the destruction of property, it was fortunate that no lives were lost.
“Our office received the emergency call at 10:49 p.m., and we immediately dispatched our team,” Polit explained. “We coordinated with the Federal Fire Service and deployed fire trucks from the Government House and Bukuru stations. Together, we managed to control the fire after several trips to replenish water supplies.”
He further revealed that the furniture section and timber sheds suffered the most damage and suggested the fire likely started in these areas. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire.
