- FCT Minister pledges full investigation, commiserates with management, Abuja business community
Amid the confusion over the fire that gutted the Next Cash & Carry supermarket owned by former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, hoodlums were busy looting goods from the sprawling warehouse.
Sources said the fire was caused by a spark from one of the Christmas trees at the supermarket.
Already, videos of the looting has gone viral, with young persons seen pushing carts which they used to move out the looted items. Among the items seen being taken away were different sizes of mattress, drinks and electronic devices.
The fire raged seriously up till the early hours of the afternoon as firefighters battled the inferno.
However, security operatives have cordoned off the scene.
Meanwhile, Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has expressed shock and deep sadness over the fire that engulfed the Next Cash and Carry Supermarket in Abuja on Sunday, 26th December, 2021.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye, Malam Bello, on behalf of the FCT Administration and the entire residents of the FCT, commiserated with the management and staff members of the supermarket and the FCT business community over the unfortunate incident.
The minister commended the FCT Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service, the Fire Service Departments of the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, Guards Brigade and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc that responded with their fire-fighting equipment.
He equally commended the FCT FEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency, Security agencies and other responders for their efforts in containing the blaze.
Malam Bello also assured Nigerians that a thorough investigation would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the fire incident in an effort to prevent a recurrence in any other business establishment within the FCT.
