There was pandemonium at the popular Dumez market, in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, when fire razed a major section of the market and destroyed property allegedly worth millions of naira in the wee hours of Monday.
The fire, which started at about 1am on Monday, razed over 150 shops, sparing only a small section of the market. However, the officials of the state fire service who visited the scene three times, left when they reportedly ran out of water.
It was gathered that at about 8.30am, Tuesday, some of the traders were still seen trying to recover some of their goods, while others who lost everything, counted their losses in tears.
Students from the School of Health Technology, most of whom patronised traders from the market, also thronged the scene to sympathise with the victims.
Some wondered why the inferno lasted for hours when the market was beside a police station; but the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Osifo Abiodun, said the command contacted the fire service when it received a distress call about the incident.
One of the victims, Mavis Odeh, who narrated the incident, said the most affected part of the market was where cash crops, textiles and other items were sold.
“On Monday morning, around 1am, someone called my mother and told her that the market was on fire. When she got to the place, we had to carry her home because of the shock. I feel very bad, especially because the year is coming to an end.
“It is very painful because my mother, who sells provisions, lost her goods to the fire.
“About four or three days ago, we spent close N250, 000 to buy some items before Christmas; the value of what we lost is between N700, 000 and N800, 000,” Odeh lamented.
One Mama Osayande, who described the inferno as a tale of double tragedy for her, was said to have lost three stores and goods worth millions of naira, three weeks after she lost a child.
A beverage seller, who identified herself as Mrs. Oserheinmen, said that she had six stores filled with crates of drinks, and three deep freezers, all of which were consumed by the fire.
She said, “My three deep freezers and six stores were affected by the fire. You know what that means,” she lamented.
The leader of the market women, Mrs. Rose Isibor, said over 150 shops were affected by the inferno, with goods worth over N200m destroyed.
Isibor, confirming the incident, divulged that the council authorities had been informed of the disaster; however, she noted that a power surge was suspected to be the cause of the fire.
“Around 1am, I got a call that the market was on fire. So, I called the security guards, who said that they had informed the police. The firemen came without water; when they returned, the damage had already been done.”
Isibor alleged that the goods destroyed would be over N300m because the fire affected the section of the market where the most valuable items were sold. For more scintillating and juicy stories, follow the official Naijapals accounts On Twitter - https://twitter.com/Naijapals and Facebook - www.facebook.com/naijapals
I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist
Posted: at 10-11-2015 08:14 PM (8 years ago) | Addicted Hero
robertedo3 at 10-11-2015 10:27 PM (8 years ago) (m)
The firemen came without water dats quite funny lol Somwtimes i wonder if this country called nigeria have a direction The whole of benin city have only two fire service vehicles outdated one pust and start vehicles this same same state billions of naira are stolen by past and present govt what a shame
Posted: at 10-11-2015 10:27 PM (8 years ago) | Upcoming