National

Ebeano Supermarket Fire: Nigerians In Dilemma On Putting Blame

Published

3 years ago

July 27, 2021

As the smouldering embers of what’s left of the popular Ebeano supermarket, Abuja dissolve into ashes, facts of what led to the inferno that caused the destruction of goods worth billions of naira have emerged.

The outcome of investigation and the release of the CCTV footage has put many Nigerians in bewielderment given the revelation that a nine year old girl set the Ebeano Supermarket ablaze.

Little initially was known of what caused the conflagration that razed down the supermarket, which was located in Lokogoma area of the FCT, when the incident occurred last week, but a CCTV footage captured how the supermarket was set afire.

In a trending video online, a teenager, who was said to have gone to Ebeano Supermarket with her mother, was seen with a lighter walking down one of the aisles, she stopped by one of the racks on which goods were placed, fired up the lighter and dropped it in between the goods on the rack which contained inflammable and combustible items.

pic.twitter.com/tSXZElYoC1

— Praise Tochi Ogbonna (@pee_deevah) July 26, 2021

In another video, the girl admitted to setting the Ebeano Supermarket ablaze. She said she had accompanied her mother to the store to get something for her sister but left them to go carry out the heinous act.

Concluding bit of the video pic.twitter.com/Jme4bUAndG

— Dipo Oyewole (@DipoOyewole) July 26, 2021

However, reactions have begun to trail the video has Nigerians share their views and perspectives on the incident.

While some apportioned blame to owner of Ebeano Supermarket for not doing enough by investing in appropriate equipment and facilities that would have forestalled the inferno, others excoriated the teenager for such detestable act, attributing her action to poor upbringing and parental irresponsibility.

There are some who inferred that the incident was premeditated and a pure case of economic sabotage, noting that the child was used in perpetrating the despicable act.

and to the Young girl who was said to be behind the Ebeano fire,though a very silent topic but there are Child and Adolescent Psychiatric cases.

— theonly1acre (@theonly1acre) July 26, 2021

''The Culprit Has Been Arrested…
The Fire that gutted Prince Ebeano Supermarket last week in Lokogoma district of Abuja was an act of arson & pure wickedness which is obviously premeditated judging from the culprit's behavior from the CCTV camera inside the shopping mall.. pic.twitter.com/FMVrWhPivg

— chijiоke, Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering(Affidavit). (@Ekwulu) July 26, 2021

Really sad to see that Prince Ebeano Supermarket in Abuja was set ablaze deliberately. I hope the lady and whoever sent her are apprehended and charged to court. Economic sabotage at any level is condemnable. Wicked souls.

— Dr. Dípò Awójídé, FHEA (@OgbeniDipo) July 26, 2021

You don’t interrogate a 9year old Ebeano Supermart arsonist in that manner, & expect she’ll open up. She may have started the fire, but she’s still a child. Sit her down, counsel her. In the process, I’m sure she’ll open up to you. She could be a troubled child, but a child still

— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) July 26, 2021

I feel bad for the owner of Ebeano supermarket that got burnt yesterday. It’s malicious damage. I hope they have comprehensive insurance that will cover their losses. Importance of insurance can never be underestimated. I can also be your plug for that

— sandy baby ? (@sandybabyonyii) July 27, 2021

I will not join those calling that 9-year-old that started the Ebeano fire evil or wicked.

The entire episode got me reminiscing about the mischief I did as a teenager just for laugh. Omo!

Madness dwells in children's heart and it's necessarily because they're evil or wicked.

— Nicholas Ibekwe (@nicholasibekwe) July 27, 2021

It begs the question, are CCTV Cameras preventive or detective security tools? If it’s the former, then why can’t people just add the cost of manning them to their setup budget? If it’s the latter, then it justifies why that Ebeano Supermarket didn’t have anyone manning theirs.

— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) July 26, 2021

When everybody is done trying to lynch a child alleged to be arsonist, they should find time to come back and ask Ebeano why a multi-million naira establishment like it neither had a fire suppression system nor a fire hydrant within its premises.

— HENRY ?? (@4eyedmonk) July 26, 2021

It’s still shocking that a 9Yr old girl set the Abuja Ebeano Supermarket on fire. It looks like a terror!st act.

I wonder why there was no one manning the CCTV Camera in the first place.

— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) July 26, 2021

There is actually more to that ebeano supermarket burning. The said child went straight the rack that has inflammables. She walked like knew where she was going to. Watched it start burning before she left.

— Timi Dakolo (@timidakolo) July 26, 2021