Fire Razes SPAR Mall Wing in Calabar, Destroys Goods Worth Millions as Firefighters Battle Blaze

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A major fire outbreak swept through a section of the popular Calabar Mall, popularly known as SPAR Mall, in Calabar, Cross River State, on Saturday morning, August 22, 2026, destroying shops, merchandise and other properties reportedly worth millions of naira.

The fire started in the early hours at the shopping complex located along Cultural Centre Road, also known as Mary Slessor Avenue, in the Bogobiri area of Calabar. Thick smoke reportedly spread across parts of the city, while flames from the burning section could be seen from areas including Barracks Road, about 100 yards away.

The affected wing housed several retail outlets, including a pharmacy, phone shop, clothing boutique and perfumery. Shop owners and employees were reportedly left devastated as they watched their goods and businesses consumed by the inferno.

The complex also houses SPAR supermarket, one of Calabar’s major shopping destinations, which has operated in the city since around 2012.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that efforts to contain the fire were initially hampered after the mall’s fire hydrant system was overwhelmed by the intensity of the blaze. One fire service truck was initially reported to have arrived at the scene, while subsequent accounts indicated that about three trucks later joined the firefighting operation.

The firefighters reportedly attempted to source water from a SPAR borehole as they battled to prevent the flames from spreading to other parts of the complex.

As the fire raged, security personnel struggled to control the crowd that gathered around the mall. There were also reports that some individuals attempted to loot from shops affected by the fire, although the extent of any such looting could not immediately be established.

No death has been reported in connection with the incident, and there was no immediate confirmation of serious injuries as of midday Saturday.

However, the economic impact on affected traders and businesses is expected to be substantial, with merchandise and property worth millions of naira reportedly destroyed.

The cause of the fire remains unknown. Although cooking, baking and electrical activities are reportedly carried out within the shopping complex, authorities have not established what triggered the outbreak.

Emergency response operations were still ongoing as of midday Saturday, while investigations were expected to determine the source of the fire and assess the full extent of the damage.

The incident has generated widespread reactions across Calabar, with videos showing thick smoke and flames from the shopping complex circulating on social media. Residents have also raised concerns about the capacity and response time of firefighting services in the city.

Authorities had yet to issue a detailed official statement on the cause of the fire, the total value of property destroyed or the outcome of the ongoing emergency response and investigation as of the time of filing this report.

The incident is likely to intensify calls for stronger fire-prevention measures, functioning emergency infrastructure and improved firefighting capacity at major commercial centres across Calabar.