A fire outbreak at the Old Airport Junction in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Wednesday destroyed several shops and offices, leaving traders and business owners counting their losses.
Eyewitnesses said the inferno began around 4:00 pm, prompting frantic calls to the fire services in Jos South and Jos North Local Government Areas.
“I came out of my office and saw fire everywhere. I don’t know the actual cause, but I immediately contacted the fire service. Thankfully, they mobilized their teams who are currently trying to extinguish the fire,” a witness, John Michael, told The PUNCH.
The Chairman of Jos South Local Government Area, Mr Silas Dung, confirmed the incident, stating, “I have just been informed about the fire, and I am currently at the scene to assess the situation.”
An official of the Jos Fire Service, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said their personnel were promptly deployed to contain the blaze.
“Once we received the report, our team was dispatched to the location. We have managed to put out the fire to prevent it from spreading further,” the official said.
The latest fire outbreak follows a similar incident last month at the Katako Timber Market in Jos North Local Government Area, where over 107 shops were gutted, leaving more than 200 people—mostly carpenters—devastated.
Goods worth over ₦1 billion were reportedly lost in that disaster.
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