- Firefighters trying to put out the fire at NEXT Cash and Carry supermarket in Abuja
The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has rebutted reports doing the rounds on the social media about a looting spree at Next Supermarket, Abuja, which was gutted by fire on Sunday.
Director-General of FEMA, Alhaji Abbas Idriss, made the clarification in a statement in Abuja.
According to him: “Immediately the agency got to the scene of the incident, security operatives cordoned the area and fire fighting began.
“There was no looting whatsoever as being speculated by some people on the social media.
“What we saw on social media was staff of Next Cash and Carry trying to salvage goods using trolleys. Nothing was taken out of the premises by looters.”
Idriss commended all responders, security agencies and the media for their prompt response to the fire incident.
He stated: “Immediately FEMA received the distress call on the fire incident, it activated all responders, including the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service and FCT police Command.
“Others are the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the National Emergency Management Agency, the armed forces, Julius Berger, the NNPC, and other private corporate entities.”
According to him, the rescue effort was well coordinated, leading to the containment of the fire.
He stated that no life was lost in the incident, adding that nobody sustained any injuries.
He appealed to business owners to factor in risk element in their business plans, noting that fire engines did not get free access within the shopping mall while the fire raged.
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