By Damilare Adeleye

President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the fire incident that erupted and affected sections of Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It was learnt that on Thursday evening, fire ripped through a swathe of the market, destroying property and other valuables.

In a statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, his spokesman, “President Tinubu extends his heartfelt sympathies to all the traders affected by this distressing incident, and assures them of his administration’s full support.

“The President urges caution and adherence to essential safety measures to prevent fire outbreaks and other accidents.”

Meanwhile, traders in the market are still counting their losses following the fire outbreak, leaving them in a state of despair.

It was learnt that goods and properties worth millions of naira have been reduced to ashes in the market located in Karu suburb of the Federal Capital Territory.

The FCT Fire Service with a station in Karu Market responded to the incident, however, faced challenges in accessing the scene due to the large crowd of people flocking to the area.

“Everything has burnt down. I could not recover anything. This is where we feed from o. Ah, my children’s school fees are there,” one of the traders cried.

“I cannot hold myself, I am in pain – I don’t know if government can help us. My money that has gone here is over ₦10 million. I am tired and I don’t know where to start,” she cried out.

Despite the challenges, soldiers were on ground to maintain order and ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by an electrical surge, which quickly spread and engulfed parts of the market.