Tragic midnight fire has yet again struck another main market in Imo State, South-East Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that Timber market at Wetheral Road in Owerri, Imo State is the latest unfortunate location in the series of fires that have engulfed markets in Igbo communities as we approach the end of the year.
The fire saw helpless residents and victims running helter skelter and counting their losses.
Several victims say that the incident started around 1:00am and engulfed everything before people could rush to the scene.
They criticized fire fighters in the state for their inability to salvage the situation
One of them said, “We called fire fighters. They came with just a tank of water. The fire was too much and they couldn’t quench it. They left and told us that their water had finished.”
“Several hours later, they have not come back. As you can see the fire is still on causing further damages.”
Another victim said that he lost his two machines and other assets.
“It is a black Christmas for us. We don’t know where to go from here. Nobody knows the cause of the outbreak. We lost over a billion here.”
Another victim said, “the annoying thing is that people offloaded goods worth several millions last night and went home only to be called hours later that the market was on fire. This is unbearable. I suspect foul play. The government should probe this incident.
“A customer came here and bought woods worth N7.5 million. He said he was coming this morning to carry it. I don’t even know what he will do now. Will he seek for a refund? If he does that, where will the shop owner get it from?”
In late November, fire engulfed some shops at Kano Street, behind Main Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria.
