Fire razes Aba market, destroys goods worth millions

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

Goods worth millions of naira and cash were destroyed in a night fire incident at Powerline Market, Aba, Abia State.

The fire, according to a resident of the area, begun like smoke in one area of the market at about midnight before spreading to other parts.

Over 30 shops were affected in the fire incident at the Mansion Zone block of the Powerline Leather Products Industrial Cluster.

Although the cause of the fire had not been determined, victims said inflammable substances kept in part of the market may had been responsible.

One of the victims, Agu Igwe, said he received a phone call from a friend in the night that his shop was on fire.

Igwe, who could not control his tears while narrating the loss, cried out that his burnt shop was recently restocked.

Another trader said he took a loan from a local financial organization to buy goods.

The plastic and scrap material dealer lamented that the proceeds of his weekend sales which he kept in his shop, were burnt to ashes.

The victims appealed to the Abia State Government and good-spirited individuals for financial assistance.

Chairman of the affected block in the industrial cluster, Mr Ugochukwu Nwachukwu said more than 500 workers were working in the affected shops.

It was gathered that the Abia Fire Service arrived from Umuahia about an hour after the fire started and their efforts helped to douse the inferno.