By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
Goods and properties worth millions of Naira have been destroyed by a sudden outbreak of fire at a section of Margaret Umahi International Market, Abakaliki.
According to the chairman of the Lot 1 Section of the market, Mr Peter Oba, the fire incident started around 2:00am Wednesday morning at one of the biggest warehouses, where they are storing cartons of noodles, biscuits, among other beverages, which were destroyed.
He further explained that all efforts were made by men of the fire service and other security agencies to extinguish the fire, but it was difficult since it was spreading to others parts of the warehouse.
In a visit to the scene of the incident at the international market, many fire fighting trucks were seen trying to quench the fire, while some of the affected traders were lamenting bitterly over the the incident.
In an interview with one of the traders, Mr Jude Okechukwu, he said that the fire which started in around 2:00am caused heavy damage and injury to them, since all efforts made to control it proved abortive.
He called on government to come to their aid and also provide adequate security to checkmate all the activities in the market to avoid further occurrence.
Meanwhile, various security agencies and fire fighting men were still battling to stop the fire from escalating to other places as at the time of filing this report.
