No casualties as fire engulfs Samsung headquarters in Abuja, confirms FCT fire service

The FCT Fire Service spokesperson, Mr. Ibrahim Tauheed, has assured that no casualties were reported when a fire broke out at the prominent Samsung Headquarters near Banex Junction in Wuse 2, Abuja.

Tauheed issued a statement to this effect on Tuesday, providing details of the incident.

According to his account, the fire incident was initiated when Mrs. Ngozi, the owner of Mozini Spa, located behind Furniture House, made a distress call at 7:38 pm.

The fire, characterized as commercial in nature, engulfed a two-story building housing Samsung products.

Preliminary investigations pointed towards careless welding activities near a stack of empty and flammable cartons as the source of the fire.

Tauheed reported that the Asokoro Fire Station arrived at the scene first at 7:43 pm. However, they encountered hostility from some individuals who pelted their fire trucks with stones.

In response to this, the leader of the firefighting crew, DSF Ahmed Katsina, directed the driver to take an alternative route to Ahmadu Bello Way and alerted the police control room for assistance. Nigerian Police personnel arrived and took measures to disperse the unruly crowd by firing shots in the air and using tear gas.

This allowed the firefighters to commence their efforts, but regrettably, the delay resulted in the fire intensifying and spreading throughout the building.

Nevertheless, collaborative efforts were made to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby structures and a nearby filling station.

Despite concerns that the fire might extend to other buildings and the adjacent filling station, it was successfully contained by the combined efforts of multiple fire stations and agencies.

The fire continued to burn for over six hours, from 7:38 pm on November 6 until 01:37 am on November 7, before it was finally brought under control.