Fire has gutted Next Cash and Carry, a popular supermarket located along Ahmadu Bello way, Kado-Kuchi area of Jahi- Kado expressway, Abuja.
According to videos that surfaced online, some residents are carting away items on display from the supermarket.
Federal Fire Service has advised residents to avoid the areas as firefighters are battling to put out the fire and prevent its spread.
An official who spoke to journalists said the cause of the fire is yet unknown, and no casualties have been confirmed.
Police operatives are also at the scene controlling the situation.
“The Service has turned out firefighters to the scene, who are currently fighting the fire,” spokesperson for the fire service, Ugo Huan, said.
Mrs Huan told News Agency of Nigeria that because of the festive season, it was expected that residents might visit the store, hence the warning to avoid the area.
“Members of the public are to take note and avoid that route,” she expressed.
Mrs Huan said firefighters from over three different zones, including the FCT fire service, were at the scene fighting the fire.
The PRO noted that the cause of fire was not known yet as further investigation would be done to ascertain the likely cause of fire.
Meanwhile, Head of Search and Rescue National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Abuja, Labuan Ahman who spoke with Channels Television called on mutual aid fire services for support.
He stated;
The whole of Next Cash and Carry is on fire. We have the FCT and Federal Fire Services on the ground. We are calling on all mutual aid fire services to deploy to Next Cash and Carry. The mutual aid fire services are Julius Berger, CBN, and then the Armed Forces.
We are calling on the Armed Forces, the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, and the Army to provide support as they usually do.
Ahman stressed that they need urgent assistance to put out the fire which as at the time of this report has destroyed the major part of the entire building including the roof.
A witness at the scene, Sandra Emeka, said she was at the gate of the supermarket trying to gain entrance to the compound when she noticed dark smoke coming out of the store.
She noted;
I don’t know where the fire started from or what caused it but I just noticed the smoke and heard people around telling us to move back that there was fire.
Another customer, Philip Paul, expressed sadness over the incident as he described the supermarket as a “big shopping center.”
He stated;
It is so unfortunate this happened at this time when the store must have been stocked up for the festive season. This is a great loss and I sympathise with the management of this supermarket.
See some videos below;
Next cash and carry is burning and guess what Nigerians are doing?
Looting.
God forbid this kind country pic.twitter.com/1kyEM1Iqtm
— $Hydra 🏳️🌈 (@TheBriDen) December 26, 2021
Next cash and carry in Kado Abuja is on fire! This is a very big store everyone knows. This fire is very big 😭😭😭😭#BoxingDay #Abuja #AbujaTwitterCommunity pic.twitter.com/8ojiqkb407
— JagunJagun🌑 (@abjghost) December 26, 2021
You guys Next Cash and Carry just went up in flames! pic.twitter.com/id2AXj74zB
— Bibi (@boluxxxx) December 26, 2021
Next cash and carry is on fire 🔥 call your loved ones …😭😭#AbujaTwitterCommunity pic.twitter.com/duXYgswBtn
— TAIYE ® (@tsloww) December 26, 2021
And people are looting Next Cash and Carry.
Where is our humanity? pic.twitter.com/cFl0shH1Mc
— Kome (@Uncle2Triplets) December 26, 2021
