Fire guts 150 shops in Anambra

About 150 shops were on Thursday gutted by fire at Ekwulobia Main Market in Anambra State.

The fire affected mainly the electronics market, where traders lost inestimable goods and cash.

The cause of the fire had yet to be known, but it was learnt that it started about noon.

As of 5pm, rescuers were still trying to salvage some goods from the remains of the fire.

Eyewitnesses said fire fighters came late to the scene. Our correspondent gathered that the fire service from Awka, rather than the one at Ekwulobia, responded to distress calls.

The President General of Ekwulobia Traders Allied Workers Association Ikechukwu Ezeokeke and Chairman of the Electronics line Ekwulobia, Frank Timothy, lamented the huge loss the traders incurred.

A victim, John Chetachukwu, said, “I am a confused person now and I can’t answer your questions.

“My shop got burnt completely. I was in my house when the youths came to bring me to this place around 4pm. I saw the inferno and I was speechless.

“Although I lost everything but I thank everybody including the DPO Ekwulobia and many others for rallying around us.”

Another victim, Kingsley Osedume, said he could not salvage a pin and his shop was the only source of the extended family income and called for help.

For Richard Okoli, who deals on interior decoration, said he just came back with goods worth over N600,000 from the market yesterday which were razed.

The Local government Chairman, Mr. Titus Anigbogu consoled the traders and assured them he would table their situation to the state government for appropriate actions.