Fire Razes Shops in Motor spare parts, Anambra State [PHOTOS]

A devastating fire outbreak occurred at the Mgbuka Obosi Old Motor Spare Parts Market in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, leaving several shops gutted.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday night, affected three shops, including a provision store, with a significant portion of the market’s structures damaged.

According to the market’s chairman, Samuel Ifurunwa, the fire was caused by a power surge resulting from a poor electrical connection in one of the burnt structures. The chairman explained that the security operatives were alerted to the incident at around 3 am on Saturday and rushed to the scene to put out the fire, but it had already spread to two other shops.

The owner of the shop responsible for the illegal connection, Sunday Ezekwe, claimed that he was not present when the fire started and that he had warned the person who made the connection to refrain from doing so. However, he admitted to using electricity before someone disconnected him and directed him to procure a new cable.

The President General of the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, Humphrey Anuna, expressed concern over the loss and lamented that most fire incidents are caused by illegal connections. He advised that structures should not be placed under high-tension cables, citing the Nnobi market fire incident as a case study.

The Anambra State Fire Service confirmed the incident, stating that firefighters were deployed immediately to the scene and battled to contain the fire. Fire Chief Chukwudi Chiketa said that the firefighters extinguished the inferno after several hours and returned to the station at 05:30 hours on the same day.

The fire service urged the public to be safety-conscious in their daily activities, as fires can be destructive when out of control. No lives were lost in the incident, but several shops were left damaged, with many more stores and shops in the market saved due to quick intervention by security operatives and firefighters.