A midnight fire has destroyed seven shops and goods worth an undisclosed amount along Amen Owie Street, opposite Delano Hotels, off Second Ugbor Road, Abuja Quarters, in Benin City, Edo State.
The fire reportedly broke out at about 3am on Sunday, leaving several traders counting their losses, although no life was lost in the incident.
Some of the affected shop owners, who spoke about the incident, said they were alerted by neighbours who contacted them after noticing the fire.
The traders expressed suspicion that the blaze might have been triggered by an electrical appliance allegedly left switched on in one of the shops after the owner closed for the day.
They also linked the incident to the restoration of electricity by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) shortly before the fire broke out.
However, the suspected cause has not been officially confirmed, as investigations would be required to establish what triggered the fire.
Residents reportedly rushed to the scene in an attempt to contain the situation and prevent the flames from spreading to nearby buildings.
In the process, some reportedly forced open the doors of affected shops to remove valuables and salvage whatever they could before the fire caused further damage.
Their intervention helped limit the spread of the blaze to other parts of the neighbourhood, although seven shops were reportedly destroyed.
The affected traders also expressed concern over the difficulty they encountered in reaching the Edo State Fire Service for assistance, attributing the challenge to the time the incident occurred.
The fire has left the shop owners facing significant losses, with the quantity of goods destroyed and the total value of the damage yet to be ascertained.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation of the cause of the fire or the full extent of the losses suffered by the affected traders.
