Fire Destroys Goods Worth Millions in Anambra Market

Goods and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in an early morning fire that burned several shops at Afor Nnobi Market in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State on Wednesday.

A section of the market, housing two shops with various items, including clothing and textiles, was destroyed by the blaze. While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, some suspect a power surge.

An eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, said the fire started in one shop and quickly spread to others. Thick flames were seen by residents before state fire service personnel arrived to extinguish the fire. The firefighters battled for hours to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to neighboring structures.

A trader named Ndubisi reported that the fire began around 7:15 am, estimating that goods worth millions of naira were lost. Ndubisi said, “Traders were preparing to open their shops when we saw the fire. Despite efforts to salvage goods, the flames were too intense.”

Anambra State Fire Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incident, stating that no lives were lost but two shops were damaged. He attributed the fire to a power surge and urged residents to contact firefighters promptly during such incidents.

President-General of the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, Chief Humphrey Anuna, visited the scene and ordered the demolition of structures built under high tension poles, citing safety concerns. He noted that previous warnings to dismantle illegal structures were ignored, leading to the significant loss of property.

Market Chairman, Chief Maduabuchi Ezeoke, emphasized the risks of conducting business under high tension wires, recalling previous warnings to traders. Following the incident, some traders began removing illegal structures to prevent future disasters.