…”The fire started around midnight. Security personnel alerted traders, but before many could arrive, a large section of the market had already been consumed,”
ANAMBRA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Fire gutted the Plumbing Materials Section of the Head Bridge Market near the Ogbo-Ogwu Medicine Market in Onitsha, leaving traders and property owners counting heavy losses.
The blaze, which broke out around midnight on Saturday, destroyed goods worth millions of naira and prompted the deployment of firefighters from Anambra and Delta states to contain it.
The market, located along the busy Onitsha-Awka Expressway near the River Niger Bridge, was filled with distraught traders on Sunday as many lamented losses accumulated over decades.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, visited the scene to assess the extent of damage and ordered an investigation into the incident.
During the visit, some traders were seen salvaging remnants of their goods, while others sorted through debris to assess their losses.
Although no casualties were recorded, the cause of the blaze had yet to be officially determined as of press time. Some traders, however, attributed the incident to excessive heat.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze raged for several minutes before firefighters arrived.
”The fire started around midnight. Security personnel alerted traders, but before many could arrive, a large section of the market had already been consumed,” a trader, Chris Okorie, said.
Another victim, Ijeoma, said she arrived in the morning to find her shop and warehouse completely destroyed.
“It is a huge loss. The goods we have built over the years have been reduced to rubble. The entire business community is in shock,” she said.
A trader identified simply as Uche described the incident as devastating, noting that some victims lost everything.
“One trader collapsed on seeing that nothing was left of his shop. He had to be revived by sympathisers,” he said.
Speaking during the visit, Orutugu expressed sympathy with the affected traders and assured them of the command’s support in securing the area.
He said preliminary findings suggested the fire might have been linked to heat generated from stored inflammable materials and possible non-compliance with safety standards.
“Investigation has commenced to determine the actual cause of the fire. We commend the swift response of emergency responders, whose intervention prevented further spread,” he said.
The police chief urged traders to adhere strictly to fire safety regulations, particularly in the storage of inflammable materials.
He was accompanied by the Divisional Police Officer of Head Bridge Division, CSP Onyinaya Uche, and other stakeholders.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the market, Chinedu Ezekwike, confirmed the incident and commended firefighters for their prompt response.
Also confirming the development, the Anambra State Fire Service said the cause of the fire remained unknown but described the incident as severe, noting that significant property was destroyed while some goods were salvaged.
Firefighters were still at the scene as of Sunday, continuing damping operations.
