Fire has destroyed about 39 shops and furniture worth over N21 million at the city furniture area of Kugbo furniture market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Eyewitnesses told Tribune online that the incident happened around 12 mid-night after all the shop owners had gone home.
Chairman of the city furniture area, Mr Austin Onuh who is also a victim, regretted that most of the furniture burnt were given to them on contract by their customers.
According to him: “We are yet to determine the cause of the inferno but furniture worth over N 21 million naira has been burnt by the fire.
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“Some of us here just returned from Christmas and new year celebrations and started work that our customers gave us, but this morning we only came to see ashes,” he said.
Mr Onuh appealed to FCT administration, spirited individuals and corporate organisations to support them.
He also called on the government to help the furniture makers provide measures that will prevent fire incident in the area.
One of the affected furniture makers, Timothy Eze, said he had lost not less than N8 million worth of furniture in his shop.
“Apart from the furniture, industrial machine, generators with several working equipment that worth millions were also burnt.” He lamented.
Another victim, Vincent Ngutsen said over N7 million finished and unfinished furniture were burnt in his shop located at the same area.
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