Goods and properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed by a sudden outbreak of fire at a section of the Margaret Umahi International Market, Abakaliki.
According to the chairman of the lot 1 Section of the market, Mr. Peter Oba the fire started around 2:00am in one of the biggest warehouses where cartons of cereals, biscuits, assorted beverages, etc were stored and virtually everything in the warehouse burnt to ashes.
He further explained that all efforts were made by the state fire service and security agencies to put off the fire, but it proved furtile as the fire escalated to other warehouses.
In a visit to the scene of the incident, our reporter saw several fire fighting trucks trying to put off the fire, while affected traders lamented bitterly over the the incident.
Speaking with one of the traders, Mr. Jude Okechukwu, the fire started at night, around 2:00am, spreading and causing heavy damage to their means of livelihood, while efforts to control the fire proved abortive.
He called on the state and federal government to come to their aid and also t provide adequate security to checkmate nefarious activities in the market to avoid further occurrence.
Meanwhile, security agencies and fire fighting men are still battling to stop the fire from escalating to other places as at the time of filing this report.
