Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A fierce fire outbreak has gutted the popular SPAR shopping mall in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, destroying goods worth millions of naira and sending thick plumes of smoke billowing across the city on Saturday morning, August 22, 2026. The inferno, which erupted inside the shopping complex located along Barracks Road, has thrown the heart of Calabar into confusion, with eyewitnesses reporting that the blaze was preceded by a minor gas or fuel explosion within the facility. As of the time of filing this report, no casualties have been confirmed, though the full extent of the damage and the cause of the fire remain unknown.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday, sending thick black smoke and fierce flames visible from as far as Barracks Road, roughly one hundred yards from the scene. Multiple eyewitness videos circulating across social media show panicked onlookers and distressed shop owners gathered outside the burning complex as the blaze spread through the building. “It's moving from shop to shop,” a witness was heard saying in one of the viral clips. Another witness lamented the perceived delay in emergency response, stating in a video recorded at the scene, “No fire service in Calabar”. A woman, weeping in the background of another video, added, “What a day. See what is happening to millions of naira at SPAR shopping mall. No water to quench it, no fire service to rescue. Look at our shops and millions of naira”.
The affected section of the mall reportedly houses a pharmacy, a clothing store, a perfumery and a phone shop, with shop owners said to be watching helplessly as their properties were consumed by the flames. The SPAR outlet, an Indian-owned grocery chain, is located in the heart of Calabar, close to the popular Watt Market and the Bogobiri, a Hausa-Fulani residential area. It began operations in Calabar in 2012 and has since become a popular shopping destination. The fire is believed to have started inside the emporium, where activities such as baking of bread, cooking of dishes, and electrical operations take place.
Firefighters arrived at the scene with about three fire service trucks and began drawing water from the store's borehole to battle the inferno. However, witnesses expressed frustration over the perceived inadequacy of the response, with only one fire service truck initially reported at the scene battling the blaze. The mall's fire hydrant system was said to have been overwhelmed, further complicating efforts to contain the fire. Subsequent footage, however, showed additional fire trucks and police personnel arriving at the scene to restore order, manage crowd control, and battle the inferno. Security personnel were also reportedly trying to control crowds around the scene amid concerns that some individuals were attempting to loot from the affected shops.
Victoria, a journalist at the scene, told Vanguard that fire service officials at the scene refused to respond to any questions. She said there was confusion at the car park, and it was not known if anybody was trapped inside. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, though reports from the scene indicated that the blaze was preceded by what was described as a minor gas or fuel explosion. As of the time of filing this report, neither the Cross River State Government nor local emergency management authorities have issued an official statement regarding casualties, structural integrity, or the extent of financial losses. The National Emergency Management Agency and the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency are expected to conduct a detailed damage and needs assessment. Further updates are expected as official information on the incident becomes available.
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