Security Attributes Mysterious Fire To Explosion ~Chairman

By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

A mysterious fire has gutted and destroyed goods worths over one billion naira in Magret Umahi International Market in Abakaliki. The incident occured on early morning of Wednesday, 18th October,2023 at lot 1, warehouse B, Magret Umahi International Market.

Confirming the incident, the lot market chairman, Hon Peter Oba described the inferno as mysterious and pointed out that on enquires, the security men attributed the cause to explosion of CCTV camera installed inside the warehouse. The chairman commended the state and federal fire service team for their sacrifices in ensuring that they put off the fire and appealed to the government to come to the aid of the victim as to help cushion the trauma. "It was around 4:30 AM that security men called me that there's fire incident in the warehouse and surprisingly, we don't have electricity in the market ".

"When I asked the security men what transpired on interview, they said that the fire started inside the warehouse. "That they are suspecting that it's solar panel, that the man has CCTV inside the warehouse and it's like the connection sparked and you know, you can't predict what is happening inside the market because when I was the chairman of the old Abakpa, I discovered that some people put on candles of different colors inside their shops and go, which I don't know what they do with it. "So, I cannot predict the cause of the fire, but am convinced that the level of security in the market, that nobody put up the fire. "However, I commend the state and federal fire service team, including the team from the airport who quickly mobilized to the scene which their action have helped us to curtail the fire from bringing down the whole building.Oba said

The state Commissioner for Market Development And Parks, Hon Nwoko Ajuka Obasi narrated that the fire consumed combustible items and described the incident as sad experience. The state Commissioner hinted that the office has made proposal to the government as to procure 11-7kg fire extinguisher to shop owners in the state and added that plans are on ground to launch the mber-month orientation sensitization of ways to ensure safety. He acknowledged that there's yet to be equipped fire service office located inside the market, but maintained optimistic that the ongoing manpower recruitment exercise in the state would be of great advantage as to mobilize workers in the place while adding that the state governor has approved an almost completion of forty unit new VIP toilets in the market