The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has emphasized the necessity of access in firefighting operations. The agency acknowledged this while noting that the cause of the fire at the old Karu Market was still unknown.

Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, the Acting Director General of FEMA, made this statement at the old Karu Market, which was destroyed by fire yesterday evening, 27 June 2024. This was revealed in a statement issued by Nkechi Isa, Head of Public Affairs, on Friday, 28 June 2024.

Mrs. Wenegieme, who was present at the site, reported that the fire began around 6.30 p.m. She stated that the firemen who arrived on time at the incident were unable to gain entry to the Abuja market, which is located behind the new market under construction.

“The fire devoured the illicit market or colony behind the newly constructed market. We had enough firetrucks and firefighters, but we couldn’t get inside the market, so we had to break down walls to have access to the firefighting hose, which caused the delay in extinguishing the fire,” she said.

She went on to say that the cause of the incident was yet unknown, but that investigations were ongoing. She went on to state that “no life was lost to the fire incident; goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.”

The Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, and Nigeria Civil Defence Corps were also on the scene to keep the mob under control. Wenegieme applauded the Department of Engineering Services for activating Julius Berger Fire Service.

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