Police officers in Calabar, Cross River State, are battling to prevent looters from breaking into a shopping mall that was gutted by fire on Saturday.
The blaze reportedly broke out at the SPAR shopping outlet in Calabar, sending thick smoke into the surrounding area and prompting an emergency response. As the fire spread through parts of the mall, some individuals reportedly attempted to take advantage of the chaos to loot shops within the complex.
According to reports, police personnel were deployed to the scene to control the situation and prevent further looting. Officers have been working to keep people away from the affected sections of the shopping centre while firefighters battle the inferno.
Videos from the scene showed heavy smoke rising from the mall as emergency responders worked to contain the fire. The incident attracted crowds of residents who gathered around the shopping complex.
The cause of the fire has not yet been conclusively established. Earlier reports indicated that authorities were investigating a reported explosion within the mall, although the exact circumstances surrounding it remained unclear.
Several businesses operating inside the shopping outlet were reportedly affected, with goods and property potentially worth millions of naira damaged or destroyed.
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