Wahala don burst for Onitsha as midnight fire scatter plumbing market wey dey Head Bridge area. The fire wey start around midnight for Saturday don destroy goods wey worth millions of naira, make traders wey don dey build their business for decades cry like pikin.
Eye witnesses talk say the fire just start around midnight for the Plumbing Materials Section of Head Bridge Market wey dey near Ogbo-Ogwu Medicine Market. Security personnel wey dey guard the area try alert traders, but before many fit reach, fire don already swallow plenty shops and warehouses.
One trader wey dem call Chris Okorie yarn say, “The fire start around midnight. Security people try tell us, but by the time many of us reach, fire don already burn everything. Na serious loss we suffer.”
Another trader wey dem call Ijeoma talk say she reach the market Sunday morning meet her shop and warehouse don turn to ashes. “Na big loss we suffer. The goods wey we don gather for years don turn to nothing. The whole business community dey shock,” she talk with tears for eye.
Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, visit the scene Sunday to see the damage. He talk say investigation don start to know wetin cause the fire, but preliminary findings show say the fire fit don start from heat wey come from inflammable materials wey dem store for the market.
Orutugu yarn, “We dey sympathize with all the traders wey lose their property. We go support una to make sure security dey tight for this area. We commend emergency responders wey come quick to stop the fire from spread more.”
The police boss advise traders to follow fire safety regulations well-well, especially when dem dey store things wey fit catch fire. He come with the Divisional Police Officer of Head Bridge Division, CSP Onyinaya Uche, and other stakeholders.
Firefighters from Anambra and Delta states rush come the scene to fight the fire. Dem work tire to control the fire wey dey rage for several minutes. As of Sunday, firefighters still dey the scene to make sure fire no start again.
Chinedu Ezekwike, wey be Caretaker Committee Chairman of the market, confirm the incident and thank firefighters for coming quick. Anambra State Fire Service talk say dem no know wetin cause the fire yet, but dem describe the incident as serious with plenty property wey don spoil.
One trader wey dem call Uche talk say the fire don finish some traders completely. “One trader collapse when he see say nothing remain for his shop. Sympathizers revive am. Na serious thing wey happen,” Uche talk.
Although nobody die for the fire, traders dey count heavy losses. Many talk say dem don lose goods wey dem gather for 20 to 30 years. The market wey dey along Onitsha-Awka Expressway near River Niger Bridge don turn to place of sorrow as traders dey look their burnt goods.
Some traders dey try salvage wetin remain from their shops, while others dey sort through the ashes to see wetin dem fit still use. The fire affect mainly plumbing materials like pipes, fittings, and other building materials wey dey sell for that section of Head Bridge Market.
Market authorities talk say dem go do proper investigation to know exactly wetin cause the fire. Dem advise all traders for Anambra markets to make sure dem follow safety rules to avoid this kind disaster for future.
As traders dey count their losses, government officials promise to help them start again. But many traders dey worry say the loss too much and dem no know how dem go bounce back.
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