Goods and property estimated to be worth several millions of naira were destroyed when fire razed some yet-to-be-disclosed number of shops located along the Obodoukwu Road, near the Relief Market, Okpoko, in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Our correspondent gathered that the fire, which occurred late on Sunday, caused chaos and panic around the vicinity of the market as traders and residents struggled to salvage some of their belongings amid a heavily crowded scene.
The cause of the fire had yet to be ascertained, but it was gathered that a section of some shops with various items and materials was destroyed by the inferno.
An eyewitness and a trader in the area who simply identified himself as Ndubuisi, said the fire emanated from one of the shops with residents seeing thick flames as it spread to others before the men of the State Fire Service arrived at the scene to put out the fire.
He said the firefighters battled for several hours to put off the fire and prevented it from escalating to other shops, including other neighbouring structures.
“The cause of the fire is still unknown, but we suddenly observed a thick smoke coming out from one of the shops in the building and before we knew what was happening, it started increasing fast.
“The few traders that were around and some residents and other passers-by mobilised to quench the fire before firefighters arrived. While some others struggled to salvage some of their belongings to avoid losing everything to the fire.
“We observed thick smoke coming out around a section of the shops and we alerted those affected, some of them arrived promptly at the scene, but could not save much of their goods as the shops were already on fire before the firefighters came.
“Some of the victims could not take anything out of their shops. I can say that goods worth millions of naira were lost to the fire. We can not say what caused the fire, but we pray God comes to their aid,” Ndubuisi stated.
When contacted, the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, led by the State Fire Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Monday.
Chiketa disclosed that two fire trucks from Okpoko Fire Station and Main Market Fire Station and other firefighting equipment were mobilised to the scene, to contain the fire.
“At about 4:19 pm on Sunday, November 24, 2024, the Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call of a fire outbreak at 276 Obodoukwu Road, along the Relief Market, Okpoko, in Ogbaru LGA of the state.
“Immediately, we deployed our firemen, with two fire truck from Okpoko Fire Station and Main Market Fire Station and other firefighting equipment to the scene, they fought and were able to contain the fire outbreak and prevented it from further escalation.
“The fire outbreak affected few shops. The cause of the fire outbreak is still unknown. No life was lost. The Firemen left the scene at about 7:39pm of the same day.
“The general public is advised to remain fire conscious and stay safe,” it stated.
