Fire razes 30 shops in Anambra market

In the Anambra state local government area of Idemili North, close to the commercial city of Onitsha, a portion of the well-known Nkpor Main market has caught fire.

It was learned that the fire started early on Wednesday morning.

Additionally, our correspondent learned that the traders managed to contain the fire before the state fire service personnel arrived, even though the fire had already destroyed no fewer than thirty stores.

Chief Paul Okafor, the market's chairman, confirmed the incident to reporters in his office, stating that the fire originated in a shop with a cold room and quickly spread to other shops in the vicinity.

He continued by saying that the fire damaged goods valued at over N300 million.

The market leader, who also had his own wine shop completely destroyed, claimed that stores stocked with paints, curtains, gum, shoe leathers, shoe polish, wines, hot beverages, and thinners were among the items damaged in the fire.

The market leader bemoaned the fact that despite numerous phone calls to the state fire service, no one answered, and firefighters did not arrive until the traders mobilised and extinguished the fire.

In order to service the three major markets nearby, he consequently urged the state government to station some firefighting vehicles beneath the flyover bridge at Nkpor Main Market.

He said, “We call on the state and local governments and public-spirited individuals and groups to come to the aid of the affected traders to bounce back to business as soon as possible.

“Goods worth over N300 million were damaged in the inferno and the traders are now counting their losses. This is not good for this Yuletide.”

Chief Jude Nwankwo, president of the Building Materials Traders Association and patron of Anambra Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, sent a message of sympathy to the traders in which he expressed his condolences for the victims and urged the government, as well as individuals and groups, to provide aid to them.

Nwankwo recommended that market leaders supply fire extinguishers in each of their markets to lessen the impact of fire, especially at night.

Martin Agbili, the state fire chief, was not available for comment because calls to his phone line showed that it had been disconnected.

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