Fire razes popular pharmacy, other shops in Taraba

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of January 1, 2026, also razed several other shops housed in the same building along Hamaruwa Way.
The fire, which reportedly started in the early hours of Thursday, engulfed the entire structure, reducing the building and its contents to rubble. 

As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the inferno had not been ascertained.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze spread rapidly, leaving no opportunity to salvage drugs or other medical items from the pharmaceutical store. 

A staff member of Moore Pharmaceutical Store, who spoke with our reporter, confirmed that nothing was recovered from the premises, noting that the entire structure was completely razed..
The staff member added that “not even a needle was recovered” from the store at the time of filing this report.
Although no casualties were recorded, other affected shop owners described the incident as devastating. Some of them appealed to the Taraba State Government, as well as well-meaning individuals and organizations, to urgently come to their aid with support that would enable them rebuild their businesses.

Several shop owners disclosed that they had taken loans to stock their shops, adding that government intervention would go a long way in preventing severe hardship.
An eyewitness also alleged that efforts to reach out to firefighters during the incident were unsuccessful, claiming that the fire service failed to respond promptly to distress calls.
Residents of the area described the incident as a major loss to the community, especially as the pharmacy served as a key source of essential medicines for people living in and around the area.