Mile One Market Fire: Livesstock Traders Count Losses

With the promise from the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to provide victims with support to cushion the loses incurred by traders in the recent fire incident that razed the Mile One market, victims in the livestock business are counting their loses.

Inestigations by our correspondent indicate that some of the livestock include, chicken and dogs among others.

Emeka, who sells chicken at the market said he replenished his stock a day before the incident in readiness for the yuletide.

According to him, just as he secured his birds the previous day hoping to go to the market the following day, the fire broke out.

He said he had about 500 birds ready for sale the next day only to be awakened by a phone call that the market has been gutted by fire.

He said his main worry was that he borrowed a substantial amount of money to buy the birds and now he was at a loss on how to repay his creditor.

For Udeme, who specialises in the selling of live dogs to operators of dog meat (404), the story was pathetic.

Udeme, who hails from Akwa Ibom State said sometimes he travels to his village to bring the animals to Port Harcourt which has recently gained prominence for the dog meat delicacy.

On the promise that the Rivers State governor would support those who lost their articles in the fire, Udeme said it was likely the government”, largesse would not include them.

He said he does not have a stall but that he only attaches himself to those who have stalls.

However,  our correspondent who was at the scene reports that the burnt market has been cleared of debris and there were indications that make shift stalls would spring up in earnest for Christmas.

As at press time the cause of the fire have not been ascertained even as there was confusion as to the exact position of the stalls by the victims.