fire outbreak on Monday morning caused panic at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation located within the Federal Secretariat complex in Abuja.

Eyewitnesses said thick smoke was first noticed around 8:20 a.m. from one section of the building. Workers in the complex quickly moved away from the affected area as the fire began to spread within the structure.

The incident reportedly occurred at Section C of the Head of Service building inside the Federal Secretariat. Staff and visitors were evacuated while emergency responders were alerted to contain the situation.

Officials of the Office of the Head of Service confirmed the incident and said the fire was limited to a specific section of the building. Emergency teams including fire service personnel were deployed to the scene to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from spreading to other offices.

Authorities said the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Investigations are expected to begin after the situation is fully contained and safety checks are completed.

As of the time of filing this report there was no official confirmation of casualties. Government officials say further details will be released as emergency responders conclude operations at the scene.