Shops destroyed as fire guts Jos Main market

A fire outbreak on Tuesday night at Terminus Market in Jos, the Plateau State capital, destroyed about 25 shops, traders and market officials have confirmed.

Witnesses said firefighters from both the Federal Fire Service and the Plateau State Fire Service responded promptly and were able to contain the blaze before it spread to other sections of the market.

The secretary of the market, Zakari Sale, told our correspondent that the fire occurred between 8pm and 9pm, noting that the damage was far less severe than in previous incidents.

“The arrival of firefighters at the scene, with the support of other spirited individuals, prevented the fire from spreading and destroying more property. From our investigation, about 25 shops were burnt,” Sale said.

The latest incident comes months after a major inferno in April 2025 that destroyed more than 500 shops, with losses estimated at over N1 billion, according to market authorities.

Terminus Market has also witnessed similar disasters in the past, including a fire in February 2001 that razed large sections of the market and left many traders financially devastated.

Reacting to Tuesday’s incident, the Jos Main Market Authority, in a statement issued on Wednesday, confirmed the outbreak but said preliminary investigations had yet to establish the cause.

The authority said security agencies cordoned off the affected area to safeguard traders’ property and maintain order before the arrival of traders at the market.

“No casualty was recorded in the incident,” the statement said, adding that normal activities had largely resumed in the market.

Part of the statement read: “Normalcy has largely been restored within the market. The Jos Main Market Authority, in collaboration with relevant government agencies, is already taking steps to assess the situation and provide necessary support to the affected traders, with a view to bringing relief and succour to them as quickly as possible.

“The management assures all stakeholders that the safety of traders and the general public remains a top priority, and further updates will be communicated as appropriate.”

The authority said investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing and that measures will be taken to prevent future occurrences.

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