Contrary to social media reports, there was no looting at Next Supermarket, Abuja, which was engulfed by fire on Sunday.
Director-General of FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Alhaji Abbas Idriss, stated this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.
“Immediately the agency got to the scene of the incident, security operatives cordoned the area and fire fighting began.
“There was no looting whatsoever as being speculated by some people on the social media.
“What we saw on social media was staff of Next Cash and Carry trying to salvage goods using trolleys. Nothing was taken out of the premises by looters,’’ Idriss stated.
He commended all responders, security agencies and the media for their prompt response to the fire incident.
According to him, immediately FEMA received the distress call on the fire incident, it activated all responders, including the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service and FCT police Command.
“Others are the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the National Emergency Management Agency, the armed forces, Julius Berger, the NNPC, and other private corporate entities,’’ he stated.
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Idriss added that the rescue effort was well coordinated, leading to the containment of the fire.
He reaffirmed that no life was lost to the incident and neither was anyone injured.
Idriss appealed to business owners to factor in risk element in their business plans, noting that fire engines did not get free access within the shopping mall while the fire raged.
Corroborating this, the FCT Police Command, in a statement signed by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh said the presence of security operatives and the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians helped ensure there was no looting at the scene.
"Today Thursday, 26th December 2021, at about 1115hours there was a report of a fire outbreak incidence at Next Cash and Carry Supermarket at Jahi District of the FCT.
"Upon receipt of the information, a team of Police officers attached to Mabushi Police Divisional Headquarters responded swiftly to the scene where a concerted effort of the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, Julius Berger Fire Service and members of other security agencies were deployed to manage the situation, minimize damage, extinguish the inferno and ensure the maintenance of law and order.
Well-meaning members of the surrounding communities came out en masse and helped in evacuating goods and other valuables from the supermarket to a safe location within the area with the supervision of Police Officers of the Command who were on ground. This is contrary to the news making the rounds as there is no successful case of looting or carting away of goods from the store," the statement said.
She also confirmed the arrest of three individuals who attempted to loot.
"The suspects who made attempts to cart away goods from the store and were promptly arrested include (1) Ali Audu aged 18 Years; (2) Yahaya Yunusa aged 20 Years; and (3) Sahabi Abubakar aged 20 Years.
"Investigation is currently ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire. So far, no casualty has been recorded," she added.
