Onitsha Main Market Guts Down By Fire, Destroying Police Station and Shops

In the early hours of Tuesday, a devastating fire engulfed a two-storey building that housed the Onitsha main market Police Station and shops selling lace fabrics. The fire raged on for hours as firefighters battled to contain the inferno, while some traders scrambled to save their goods, and others watched in tears as their shops were consumed by flames.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Anambra Command of the Police dispatched officers to Onitsha main market to join the firefighters in the effort to control the fire and prevent looting. However, the response was not enough to save the building, and the damage caused by the fire was significant.

The Police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that both the firefighters and the police force were present at the scene. However, their efforts were not enough to prevent the fire from destroying the building, and the damage to the market is likely to be severe.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Director of Anambra Fire Service, Mr Martin Agbili, were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls or reply to the text messages sent to his phone. This is a developing story, and it is not yet clear what caused the fire or how much damage was caused by the blaze. However, it is a sad reminder of the importance of adequate fire safety measures and emergency response services to prevent such disasters from occurring.

It is crucial that steps are taken to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. This includes not only improving fire safety measures but also ensuring that emergency response services are adequately equipped and trained to respond to such incidents quickly and effectively.

As the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, it is hoped that measures will be put in place to support the affected traders and help them get back on their feet. The road to recovery will be long and challenging, but with the support of the community, they can rebuild and continue to contribute to the economic growth and development of the area.