By Ifeoma Ejiofor
Mystery fire on New Year Day burnt down Obi Isiedo foodstuff market, Okpuno-Egbu, Umudim, Nnewi, Anambra State where about 400 makeshift shops were consumed in the night.
Sources claimed that the fire started around 10:00 pm at one shop and later escalated to several others where the owners left their goods and some cash with which to continue business after the festivities.
Our source said that water tankers mobilized to the scene to help fight the inferno could not help.
A resident within the market vicinity whose house was touched, Pastor Chinedu Dike said that no one could explain what caused the fire.
“As you can see, my house is near the market. I came back from some functions and was taking my rest when around 9:30 pm we heard an outcry that the market was on fire.
“People started running helter skelter looking for help and water tanker suppliers were contacted who mobilized up to seven tanks of water to quench the fire to no avail.
“Fire fighters came but the fire was already advanced. Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed. My two storey building under construction was about to be consumed but I struggled to save the situation and received some bruises in the process, ” he said.
One of the traders who lost his goods to the inferno, Mr Paul Akachukwu said that the figure of the burnt shops can not be readily determined.
He however put the number of burnt shops stocked with goods at about 400.
Akachukwu said that most of the traders in the market took loans to stock their goods for Christmas and new year sales.
Market women were seen wailing and bemoaning their loss when our reporter got to the burnt market.