A fire outbreak on Monday morning, ravaged Tunga Market in Minna, Niger State, destroying several shops and properties worth millions of naira.
NewsBand gathered that the inferno consumed a furniture store, a gas cylinder shop, and part of a nearby motel, causing serious losses for business owners and residents in the area.
During the raging inferno, frustrations grew among some youths due to the delayed response of the fire service, leading to hostility towards emergency responders who arrived at the scene.
It took over 30 minutes for the firefighters to reach the scene. Following this delay, angry youths began stoning the firefighters and chanting “ba mu so” (we don’t want you).
The fire service driver, fearing for his safety, fled the scene, while efforts by community elders to calm the youths were unsuccessful.
The hostility forced the firefighters to return to their base, leaving the residents to fight the fire with limited resources.
Moreover, as the blaze intensified, locals struggled to contain it, scrambling for water.
Despite the arrival of a water tanker from a nearby construction company, the lack of a long hose made their efforts largely ineffective.
The flames spread, causing further damage to nearby properties.
However, the state government is yet to issue a statement in respect to the development.