Panic and tears filled the air in Calabar on Saturday morning as a massive fire gutted the popular SPAR Mall in the Cross River State capital, destroying goods worth millions of naira.
“It’s Moving From Shop to Shop”
Multiple eyewitness videos that went viral on social media showed *thick black smoke and intense flames* billowing from the facility.
In the clips, distressed shop owners and panicked onlookers gathered outside the complex as the fire spread rapidly.
“It’s moving from shop to shop,” a witness was heard shouting in one video.
Another woman, weeping in the background, lamented:
*“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.”*
Frustration over emergency response dominated the early videos.
*“No fire service in Calabar,”* another witness cried out as business owners watched helplessly.
Subsequent footage showed a fire truck and police personnel eventually arriving at the scene to *restore order, manage crowd control, and battle the inferno.*
The cause of the fire has *not yet been determined* as of press time.
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 SPAR Mall is one of Calabar’s busiest shopping complexes, housing dozens of retail outlets and attracting thousands of shoppers weekly.
The incident adds to growing concerns about emergency preparedness in major Nigerian cities, with many Nigerians on social media calling for better-equipped fire services nationwide.
