Fire Destroys Calabar SPAR Mall on August 22

A fire broke out at the SPAR shopping mall in Calabar, Cross River State, on Saturday morning, August 22, 2026, destroying property and prompting a major emergency response. The blaze began in the early hours of the day, sending thick smoke across the city and drawing firefighters to the popular retail complex.

Witnesses reported flames visible from Barracks Road, approximately 100 yards from the scene. Several fire service trucks were deployed, with crews working to pump water from the mall's borehole to combat the fire. Security personnel and firefighters cordoned off the area as shoppers and traders rushed to evacuate their belongings. Videos from the scene showed people carrying cartons and other items from the building while firefighters directed equipment into affected sections.

The police confirmed they received reports of the incident. Sunday Eitokpah, the police spokesperson for Cross River State, stated that a possible electrical fault was suspected as the cause. "From the report reaching me, the incident started in the early hours of this morning with a lot of properties belonging to people at the SPAR Mall catching fire," Eitokpah said. He added that there were no...