By Patrick Idowu
A fierce fire broke out at midnight and tore through the popular PADOFEC Plaza near Trademore Mega Estate in Lugbe, Abuja, leaving a trail of destruction and heavy losses.
The plaza, located opposite CLOBE Estate, was engulfed by flames as firefighters raced against time to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.
One of the shops, which dealt in electrical appliances, was completely consumed by the fire, deepening the estimated value of the losses into millions of naira.
As of press time, the cause of the inferno remained a mystery. Curiously, there was no power supply in the area when the fire erupted, and the affected shop was not connected to any solar source, leaving authorities puzzled over what could have triggered the blaze.
Emergency officials are yet to give a full assessment of the damage, while residents and business owners watched in shock as the popular commercial hub went up in smoke.
