By Obianuju Azukaego/Uchechukwu Molokwu/Ngozi Iwunze/Nkiru Anakor
A devastating fire has swept through the Electronics Market in Iweka, Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State, destroying goods valued at millions of naira. According to the market chairman, Mr. Godwin Akuebue, the blaze occurred on Monday night around 9 p.m.
Mr. Akuebue revealed that the fire ravaged 57 shops, loaded with goods, leaving them in ruins. The incident has left traders in the market counting their losses.
According to him, he and some of the traders in the market hurriedly contacted the Director of Anambra Fire Service, Mr. Emmanuel Chicheta who deployed his men to the fire scene.
Mr. Akuebue said that the cause of the fire disaster was yet to be known, adding that the Fire Fighters from Building Materials Market, Ogidi and GRA Onitsha North LGA arrived at the scene timely to control the inferno.
He urged the state government to equip the electronics market and other markets in Onitsha with Fire Service trucks for easy fire control.
He also pleaded with the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to come to the aid of the victims as the fire incidence has caused a huge damage in the market.
Mr. Akuebue commended the presence of the Fire Fighters who he said arrived timely at the scene to control the inferno.
Also, one of the traders, Mrs. Juliet Onu commended the Director of Anambra State Fire Service for his timely response to their call.
“I must praise the effort of the Fire Service Director because he promised to send his men to the scene and to our surprise, they arrived within a short period of time’, Mrs. Onu added.
She however urged the Fire Service boss to make their emergency numbers available to all the markets for easy accessibility.
The Area Commander of Onitsha, ACP Nzota Chidi while inspecting the fire scene with his team expressed shock at the level of the damage.
ACP Nzota who consoled the chairman of the market and his people, admonished them to be cautious of fire prevention in the market.
He urged them to mobilise within themselves to equip the market with fire appliances to avoid such disaster in future.
Responding to the Area Commander, the chairman of the market expressed his satisfaction towards his visit to the market.
* Azukaego, Molokwu, Iwunze and Anakor are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *
