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It was gathered that the fire destroyed plumbing materials and other items estimated at millions of naira across an unspecified number of affected shops in the market.
The market, located along the busy Onitsha-Awka Expressway, near the River Niger Bridge, saw traders and residents battling to control the fire before firefighters arrived, while other victims wailed over losses they said had taken decades to accumulate.
Although no casualties were recorded and the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, eyewitnesses and traders in the market said the fire started at about 11:55pm on Friday.
Some eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the fire burned for several minutes until men of the state fire service arrived at the scene and battled to stop it from spreading further.
“The fire started at almost 12 midnight, the security men at the market alerted officials and traders, but before they could rush to the market, the fire had burnt a substantial part of the market.
“As we speak now, some of the affected shop owners are still packing some of their burnt items and examining the extent of damage. The exact cause of the fire could not be immediately determined, but a power surge is suspected.”
Reacting via a WhatsApp statement on Saturday, the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Head Bridge Market, Onitsha, Chinedu Ezekwike, confirmed the fire incident.
He said, “There was a serious fire outbreak last night at Head Bridge Market, Onitsha by the Plumbing Material Section, when we contacted the Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area around 12 midnight, he responded immediately and contacted fire service personnel and they came in numbers and quelled the fire.
“Special thanks to the Chairman of plumbing material, who left his house in Asaba around 12:15am to control the situation at his domain.
“As the President General of the market, I want to use this medium to thank all those who contributed in one way or another to make sure that the fire was quenched last night.”
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement available from the state fire service.
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