By Kelvin Ololo
Popular wood market, Akim Timber market has been razed by fire, just days a station was exploded in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.
The panic and devastation swept through Calabar late Friday night, March 27, 2026, as a raging fire tore through the popular the Market, destroying large quantities of wood and leaving traders counting heavy losses.
Eyewitnesses and sources told CrossRiverWatch that the fire broke out shortly after traders had closed for the day, catching many off guard. Sellers and dealers reportedly rushed back to the market in a desperate attempt to contain the flames, but the intensity of the fire quickly overwhelmed local efforts.
Alarmingly, as of the time of filing this report, there was no visible presence of fire service officials at the scene, raising serious concerns about emergency response readiness in the area.
READ: Cross River: What Led To Calabar Gas Explosion Narrated
Security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force were later seen at the scene, working to secure the area and prevent further escalation.
However, the cause of the fire remains unknown as authorities are yet to provide an official explanation.
This latest disaster comes barely a week after a gas station fire incident in Edibe-Edibe area of Calabar South, intensifies fear among residents over a troubling pattern of fire outbreaks within the metropolis.
Traders and residents are now calling for urgent government intervention, improved fire response infrastructure, and a thorough investigation to prevent a recurrence of such catastrophic incidents.
As the embers continue to smolder, many victims are left with little more than ashes, another stark reminder of the vulnerability of local markets to fire disasters and the dire consequences of delayed emergency response.
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