The Anambra State Police Command said it had begun an investigation into the cause of the fire incident that occurred at Chukwunonso Street along Obodoukwu Road, near Relief Market, Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesman for the command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, on Monday, said the investigation was to avert future occurrences.
He said, “We will probe the circumstances that led to the fire incident. This is needed to avert a recurrence in future.”
Goods and properties estimated to be worth several millions of naira were destroyed when a fire burnt some yet-to-be-disclosed number of shops located along the Obodoukwu Road, near the relief Market, Okpoko, in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene on Monday, gathered that the fire, which occurred late on Sunday, caused chaos and panic around the vicinity of the market causing traders and residents to struggle to salvage some of their belongings amid heavy crowded scene.
The actual cause of the fire had yet to be ascertained, but it was gathered that a section of some shops with various items and materials was destroyed by the inferno.
A trader in the area who identified himself simply as Ndubuisi said the fire emanated from one of the shops with residents seeing thick flames as it spread to others before the men of the state fire service arrived at the scene to put out the fire.
He said the firefighters battled for several hours to put off the fire and prevented it from escalating to other shops, including neighbouring structures.
“The cause of the fire is still unknown, but we suddenly observed a thick smoke coming out from one of the shops in the building and before we knew what was happening, it started increasing fast.
“The few traders that were around and some residents and other passers-by mobilised to quench the fire before firefighters arrived. Some others struggled to salvage some of their belongings to avoid losing everything to the fire.
“We observed thick smoke coming out around a section of the shops and we alerted those affected. Some of them arrived promptly at the scene, but could not save much of their goods as the shops were already on fire before the firefighters came.
“Some of the victims could not take anything out of their shops. I can say that goods worth millions of naira were lost to the fire. We can not say what caused the fire, but we pray God comes to their aid.”
One of the traders, simply known as Uche, said, “Most people did not open for business as it was a Sunday. No one knows the cause of the fire, but we suspect it could be an explosion because the weather has been really hot these days.
“When we noticed the thick smoke coming out from a section of some of the shops, as the fire raged, we couldn’t reach out to fire extinguishers. Residents and passers-by battled to quench the fire before the firefighters came. The police officers were on the ground too to prevent looting.”
Efforts to speak to some of the market leaders on the development proved abortive as they refused to speak to the media.
The police command spokesman, Ikenga, who reacted to the incident said, “The police officers have cordoned off the scene of the incident to prevent hoodlums from taking undue advantage of the situation to loot properties and goods of individuals.
“Meanwhile, the swift response of the Fire Service Operatives brought the situation under control. The command has however begun an investigation into the cause of the fire incident to avert future occurrences. Further development shall be communicated, please.”
Also, the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, led by the state Fire Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Monday.
He added that two fire trucks from Okpoko Fire Station and Main Market Fire Station and other firefighting equipment were mobilised to the scene, to contain the fire.
“At about 4:19 pm on Sunday, November 24, 2024, the Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call of a fire outbreak at 276 Obodoukwu Road, along the Relief Market, Okpoko, in Ogbaru LGA of the state.
“Immediately we deployed our firemen with two fire trucks from Okpoko Fire Station and Main Market Fire Station and other firefighting equipment to the scene, they fought and were able to contain the fire and prevent it from further escalation.
“The fire affected a few shops. The cause of the fire outbreak is still unknown. No life was lost. The firemen left the scene at about 7:39 pm on the same day.
“The public is advised to remain fire conscious and stay safe,” it stated.
