Fire razes Warri market, destroys goods worth millions

Fire guts Warri market, consumes shops and property.

A fire accident which occurred on Tuesday night razed Ogbe-Ijoh market in Warri, Delta State, destroying no fewer than 500 shops and goods worth millions of naira.

Naija News gathered that the fire which started at about 11:30pm and lasted till 1:30am, Wednesday morning, was as a result of electrical surge in one of the makeshift shops in the market.

It was learnt that the fire was extinguished by the officials of the State Fire Service.

Punch reports that the affected traders lamented that their source of livelihood had been destroyed.

Mrs. Queen Ajemitolu, the leader of Ogbe-Ijoh Market Traders Women Union, said, “The fire could have started when power was restored.”

She therefore, called on the state government to come to their rescue, and provide boreholes, as well as other basic amenities in the market.

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The President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Mr. Eric Omare, also called on the state government to build befitting structures in the market to avoid persistent fire outbreak.

The Commissioner representing the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Favour Izoukumor, came to the scene of the incident, promised the traders that he would liaise with the government for help.

“My concern is that there should be unity to maintain peace in this market because we have had clashes in the past; may be when there is unity this type of fire will be avoided.

“The country is facing recession, but we are about to overcome the challenge. I believe the governor will intervene,” he said.