The fire raged, consuming everything and anything on its path, leaving on its trail horrendous destruction of property in the multi-million naira territory.
Dateline was Bababa shopping complex in the Bauchi metropolis.
What is undisputedly the biggest Complex in Bauchi metropolis, located around the Wunti market, has been turned into gory ashes.
The fire reportedly started in the early hours of Saturday.
Combined fire fighters from the State Fire Service, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and the Federal Polytechnic Fire Services fought to put it out so as not to spread to other adjoining buildings.
Although it had yet to be ascertained as of press time the number of shops destroyed but the shopping complex which has no fewer than 100 shops and stalls was said to have been severely burnt down.
The cause of the fire could also not be ascertained but there were suggestions that it might have been due to power surge.
The Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Fire Service, Abubakar Bala, was quoted by Nationa Accord newspaper to have confirmed that the fire started about 12.45am on Saturday.
“Our men responded to the emergency calls and rushed to the scene for rescue operations but unfortunately, the shops upstairs were all affected,” he said.
When asked on the exact number of shops destroyed, he said: “for now, we don’t have the exact number because our men are still there counting and trying to have the value of goods destroyed and those saved in the shopping complex belonging to Alhaji Labaran Bababa.”
Bala said that the combined team was able to contain the fire from spreading, adding that “there was no loss of life because it happened at midnight when everyone had gone home.”
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who was also at the scene, joined others as soon as he got the news, to participate in the rescue efforts.
The Governor sympathized with the victims of the incident, urging them to take it as an act of Allah.
He thanked God that no life was lost to the disaster though property and sources of livelihood were lost.
Mohammed, who was at the scene for a few hours, assured the people that the remote and immediate causes of the incident would be investigated by the relevant authorities just as he promised that government would immediately take steps to assist the victims to mitigate their losses.
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