By Idris Shehu
Bababa shopping complex one of the biggest shopping complexes in Bauchi located close to the Wunti market was late Friday gutted by fire which destroyed over 70 shops and stalls destroying properties worth millions of Naira.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the fire started late Friday at about 10.30pm and lasted into the early hours of Saturday before combined fire fighters from the State Fire Service, ATAP, ATBU and FedPoly fire services were able to control the fire from spreading to other adjoining buildings.
The shopping complex which has over 100 shops and stalls was completely burnt down with nothing salvaged considering that the shop owners had closed and locked up their shops.
Though nobody could ascertain the cause of the fire insinuations are that it was caused by power surge when PHCN restored power supply thereby causing sparks from some of the shops which power outlets were left on by the shop owners.
However, while efforts were put to stop the fire, a few bad elements were seen forcing shops and stalls opened looting the items inside, it however took the combined efforts of security operatives in collaboration with neighborhood Vigilante known as ‘Yan Komiti’ to arrest the looting spree.
Some of the victims who managed to speak, simply called on the state government and other well to do individuals as well as corporate organizations to come to their aid to enable them pick up life again.
Meanwhile, Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir joined others at the scene of the fire incident late in the night as soon as he got the information, he was seen participating in the rescue efforts.
The Governor empathized with the victims of the incident urging them to take it as an act of Allah, thanking Allah that no life was lost to the disaster though properties and sources of livelihood must have been lost.
Bala Mohammed who was at the scene for few hours assured that the remote and immediate causes of the incident will be investigated by the relevant authorities just as he promised that government will immediately take steps to assist the victims by mitigating their losses.
