Many
people have cried out for help after a fire incident yesterday
destroyed goods worth millions of naira at a popular market in Asaba.
Scene of the fire incident in Asaba
Fire razed shops at the popular “Cable Point Market” in Asaba,
Delta State, destroying goods belonging to shop owners. The incident
happened yesterday and was caused by an electrical fault.
Punch reports that an eyewitness, Iyabo Mushin, said the fire which
gutted the entrance to the building, started around 2am, and it was
neighbouring house owners who alerted the authorities to it.
It was gathered that three persons who attempted to put out the
fire sustained various degrees of injuries, as the fire was beyond what
they could tackle. The injured were taken to a hospital.
An elderly man who witnessed the fire, Mr. Ogbueshi Joseph Nwandu,
blamed the fire on poor electrical connection, adding the victims were
lucky to have escaped death.
It was gathered that residents of Cable Point Quarters have been
apprehensive, following the continuous sparks of cables on the electric
poles in the areas whenever there was power supply.
At the scene of the razed market building, traders who had just
returned from their market trips cried profusely as they watched
helpessly.
One of the security men in the market, Nnamdi Paul, said the fire
broke out after a prolonged sparks from the electrical cables’ switch
boxes that were connected to the market building.
He said, “We were just doing the rounds when, suddenly, we observed
that fire was coming out of the switch boxes connecting the entire
market building. We ran for help, but it was to no avail.”
Traders whose shops were razed, one of them, Alhaji Lade Lawal,
expressed shock about the incident, saying he had just stocked his shop.
In his reaction, the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr.
Chika Ossai, said the situation was was unfortunate, promising that the
government would find the cause of the fire and prevent a recurrence.
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