Fire Burns Market

The popular Mile 1 market in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, has been destroyed by fire, The Nation reports.
Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fire started at about 2.00 am on Tuesday morning and burnt down the entire market.  

The fire reportedly destroyed properties and goods worth millions of naira. It also affected a two storey residential building and some lock-up stores nearby.

Mrs. Ebere Okoye, a trader and resident of the burnt residential building, who could not control her tears, told NAN that her entire life savings and properties had been consumed by the inferno 

A widow and mother of four, Mrs. Okoye lamented that she did not know how she could provide accommodation for and feed her children. 

Ever since I lost my husband, life has been difficult and will even be harder now that I have lost everything. 

“Government and well-meaning Nigerians should come to my aid because as it stands now, the only thing keeping me alive is my children,” she said amidst tears. 

Others traders told NAN that they did not only lose their goods to the inferno, they also lost cash worth several thousands of naira which they left in the market. 

They said they usually leave some cash in their shops due to bank closures.  

Another eye-witness,Mr, Chris Uwajeh praised the efforts of the of the firefighters who came to the scene, and he also commended the Police and men of the State Security Service who said were at the scene to curtail breakdown of law and order.

The Nation