Fire Razes Electronics Market

The Electronics Market in
Nsukka, Enugu State, has been razed by an inferno, leaving more than 20 shops destroyed, and traders in agony and lamentation over the loss of their sources of livelihoods.
The ferocious fire destroyed electronics gadgets, electrical appliances, generating sets and other goods worth over N50million.
The distraught Chairman of Nsukka Market Electronic and Electrical Dealers Association, Mr Emma Asogwa, in a chat with newsmen who visited the scene, described the fire incident as unfortunate, “especially at this economic recession period.”
According to him, the “members affected are those who have their shops along Slaughter Road opposite the private park at Nsukka Main Market.
“The fire started around 2:00am from a residential apartment opposite Nitel building in Nsukka, but the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained”.
He appealed to local, state and federal governments, as well as philanthropists to come to the aid of the affected traders, saying that the fire destroyed all their goods.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after visiting the scene of the fire incident and Bishop Shananan Hospital, Nsukka, to see Mr Reginald Asueze, who sustained burns during the tragedy, the Nsukka Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Prof Rose Onah, described the damage by the fire as enormous.
She said the council would set up a committee to look into the cause of the fire so as to avoid future recurrences.
Mrs Onah commended the quick intervention of fire service men when they were alerted of the fire, which she said helped to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas.
When contacted, Operation Officer, Nsukka Fire Service Station, Mr Matthew Ani, said that they got the distress call around 2:41am on that fateful day, and his men got to the scene by 2:48am, and started battling to put out the fire, adding that the fire was put out by 6:46am.
He attributed the cause of the fire to an electricity spark, which he blamed on the inability of some people to switch off their electrical appliances before closing their shops.