Traders at the popular Kaura Modern Market in Abuja are counting their losses after a fire destroyed at least 39 open shops.
The blaze which began late Friday night was reportedly sparked by an electrical fault.
The fire continued for several hours before being brought under control by a combined team of firefighters from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service.
The inferno was finally extinguished by 2 a.m. on Saturday.
Various items were destroyed in the incident, including foodstuffs, electrical appliances, and other goods stored in the affected shops.
The fire was intensified by the presence of a generator containing petrol within the shop where the blaze originated.
The FCT Fire Service confirmed the incident and highlighted the swift response of the firefighting teams.
The Acting Director of the FCT Fire Service praised the firefighters for their quick action in preventing the fire from spreading further.
