Nigerians Loots Burning Shopping Mall In Abuja

During this festive season, while everyone is busy celebrating and minding their business, Nigeria has once again proven to be a land plagued with constant issues and problems.

With the most recent happenings coming in just yesterday, boxing day, on the 26th of December, 2021. There was a huge fire outbreak at the Next cash and carry supermarket on Sunday morning in the Jahi area of Abuja.

For those wondering what is the Next Cash and carry supermarket, it is one of the largest indigenous shopping malls in Nigeria established by the former Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi. It was established in 2013, with its first branch in the nation's capital Abuja, FCT and with plans for expansion into other cities in Nigeria. It is not only one of the largest but also one of the fastest-growing indigenous supermarkets in Nigeria.

As for the cause of the inferno at the supermarket, a worker who pleaded anonymity claimed that the fire started due to an electrical surge from the first floor at around 8 a.m.

He also accused the Fire service for getting to the scene late.

He stated that, "The fire started around 8am. We called the fire service but the firefighters did not arrive on time. We made attempt to put out the fire but we couldn’t find the key to the fire truck stationed at the supermarket. The fire won’t have escalated if they had arrived on time. The fire was caused by an electrical surge."

Now what is the most intriguing about this news is that not only was there a slow response to the emergency but that as the fire raged on, hoodlums were spotted looting goods and gadgets from the supermarket.

The looters gained entrance into the supermarket and began carting away anything their hands could carry. Many of them were seen using the mall's trolleys and carriers to move items such as drinks, electronics, mattresses among other things away from supermarket, despite the presence of security.

You can watch the video of how it happened below.

Anyway its not clear why the police officers and civil defence operatives present at the scene refused to do anything, but when you look at the photos you see that it is really pointless. What would they have done against such a massive mob, as they were clearly outnumbered.

Though after the massive raid, some police men tried to arrest some people they could find but is there any need?...

Is it better to allow everything burn to the ground?

Either way it'll still be a loss

A while ago, precisely last year October, 2020, during the nationwide lockdown, similar incidents of looting occurred at the ShopRite shopping mall when they are reported cases of looting in Surulere, Lagos State and in many other branches across the country. I would say this is becoming quite the habit among Nigerians, a terrible one for that matter.

Destruction of investments made by people in the country whether foreign or indigenous, portrays a very bad and uncivilized image to other people including potential investors and reduces the chance off more lucrative investments and franchises to make their way into the nation. whether or not the culprits are caught, the damage done to the Next Cash and carry supermarket is significant and it could take a while before the Abuja branch recovers.

Anyway all we Nigerians see is that it's our money because apparently, Mr Obi used the money he looted from the governor's seat to develop the supermarket.

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Thank you for reading and do have a wonderful festive season.