Fire Razes 300 Shops in Biafra Market, Onitsha

A night fire has destroyed over 300 shops in the Biafra market, also known as Glorious market in Onitsha.

Daily Trust learnt that the fire started about 10.15 pm Friday in the market located beside the G. Agofere Park and occupied mainly by traders doing business in shops constructed with pans occupying major part of Sokoto Road near Onitsha Main Market to Kirk Road Junction Fegge, Onitsha South.

Witness accounts had it that no life was lost but some traders who deal in both male and female casual wears and other cloths were said to have sustained injuries while trying to remove their properties.

They said the fire started from the area where people do some aluminum work at the back of the market, adding that the traders had all gone home because it was already night time.

Confirming the incident, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Fegge Police Division, Ribiu Garba, said the fire incident affected U.S.A Line and he was one of the first to arrive at the scene with men of Okpoko Fire Service Station and their counterpart from Onitsha Main Market, who fought relentlessly to put off the fire.

And in Niger State, an early morning fire yesterday gutted part of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot in Suleja, near Abuja.

"The fire outbreak started around 5:00am and by 5:30am the fire was put out, the Head of Operations, Minna Office, Mr. Slaku Bijimi, confirmed to journalists yesterday in the Niger State capital, Minna.

Bijimi however said no life was lost in the incident, while damage to facilities was minimal as men of the state fire service responded promptly to bring the situation under control.

"An articulated vehicle was burnt while the loading canopy and some pipes were damaged at the depot," he disclosed.

Also, the Officer in Charge of the Fire Service in Suleja, Mr Mohammad Kwale confirmed the fire incident saying that the fire fighters swiftly went into action, and that "there are no serious damages."

A resident of Maje, Malam Garba Magaji, told journalists that a loud explosion woke up residents who later realized the explosion was from the depot. "The explosion was like bomb," he said.


By Emma Elekwa and Ahmed Tahir Ajobe