The fire reportedly broke out at about 1 a.m., destroying electronic appliances, solar panels, refrigerators, grinding machines and other merchandise valued at millions of naira. One of the affected traders, Abdurafiu Hassan, said he rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call from his wife, only to discover that the fire had damaged shops and goods.

Although residents suspect an electrical surge may have triggered the incident, the cause of the fire has not been officially established.

Residents also expressed concern over the difficulties encountered in trying to contain the blaze, saying the apparent shortage of firefighting equipment hampered efforts to prevent further damage.

No deaths were reported in the incident. However, the affected traders now face the challenge of rebuilding their businesses and replacing the goods destroyed by the fire.

They have appealed to the Kogi State Government to provide assistance to help them recover from their losses.

Residents have also called for improved firefighting equipment and faster emergency response services in Lokoja, warning that inadequate preparedness could allow future incidents to cause greater damage.

The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of small businesses to fire outbreaks and the financial difficulties traders face when their goods and livelihoods are destroyed.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia