Fire Razes Shops at Jos Terminus Market 

By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

A devastating fire has broken out at the popular Terminus Market, also known as Jos Main Market, in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. 

The incident caused significant panic among residents and the business community.

The inferno reportedly started at approximately 10:00 pm, a time when most traders had already closed their shops and returned home for the day. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising into the night sky as the flames quickly spread through a section of the market.

Preliminary reports indicate that more than 10 shops were completely destroyed by the blaze. The affected stalls primarily belonged to traders dealing in essential commodities, particularly those selling various types of clothes and shoes.

While the exact cause of the fire has not yet been officially determined by market authorities, there is strong suspicion among the victims. Many affected traders believe the outbreak may have been triggered by an electrical fault within the market’s power system.

Commenting on the incident, an official from the State Fire Service confirmed the extent of the damage, stating, “The fire started late at night, but our men were able to arrive on time to stop it from spreading to other parts of the market. Unfortunately, about 10 shops were already burnt down before we arrived.”

The scale of the disaster was limited due to the swift and coordinated intervention of multiple emergency response teams. Firefighters from the Plateau State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service arrived promptly at the scene to battle the raging flames.

These firefighting teams were joined by personnel from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Their collective efforts were instrumental in containing the fire and preventing it from spreading to the rest of the busy commercial hub.