By Ikeugonna Eleke
A midnight fire has gutted goods worth several millions of Naira at the D Line Building Materials, Bridge Head Market, Onitsha, Anambra State.
This is also as scores of traders have been thrown into mourning following the loss of their means of livelihood, as a result of the fire.
One of the victims of the fire said it completely razed four shops and affected about eight others with goods running in millions lost to the inferno.
The victims, Chigozie Akabuogu, an iron and steel dealer, whose shop was affected, said he lost over N35 million worth of goods, while his sister who deals on accessories, Mrs. Onyinyechi Ezekwu, lost goods worth over N25 million to the inferno.
The visibly devastated trader lamented that the fire also burnt N1 million cash she left in his shop.
‘I got a call in the middle of the night from some friends that live close to the market, that my shop with goods worth over N35 million were on fire.
‘They also told me that not only mine was affected but that the goods of my sister worth N25m who deals on accessories were destroyed,’ he said.
The Secretary, Amalgamated Timber Dealers Association, Mr. Augustine Ezekwugo, who inspected the affected part of the market, described the incident as unfortunate and unexpected, saying they had never experienced such an incident in the market.
He regretted the great losses, assuring that proper investigation was ongoing to unravel the cause of the incident and called on the traders to ensure they switched off all electrical appliances before leaving the market to avoid re-currence.
