ONYEDI GABRIEL, PORT HARCOURT
Traders counted their losses on Thursday following a midnight fire that razed the Timber Market at the Marine base axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
The fire was said to have started from the coffin section of the market.
The inferno burnt the entire market leaving traders helpless as none of them could recover any item from their shops.
Many of them said all their efforts to get the state fire service to intervene yielded no result.
One of the victims identified as Chidi said: “I was at home around 11:30 am to 12 midnight when I was called that there is fire there…I don’t know where to start from.”
Eyewitnesses said the fire lasted till about 6:am on Thursday, when traders and residents made efforts to put out the fire with buckets of water.
Chairman Marine Base Timber Market, Isaac Amaewhule, said he received many calls at about midnight that the market was on fire, but could not race down because he stayed far away.
He said: “When I came, the security told me that the fire started from the coffin (casket) side. That they were very surprised to see such a huge fire but they don’t what caused it.
“I am using this opportunity to call on the state government to help us because we are all Nigerians. Even people selling pure water, food and son come here to sell and sustain themselves and their families”.
A resident close to the area, who identified herself simply as Gift said the fire started after the market had closed for business.
Gift said: “There was a heavy fire last night at Marine Base market. The fire burnt down the market. Traders on the market lost every one of their goods.
“The fire started around 10:pm when the market has already closed. Nobody died in the incident but traders lost everything they have in the fire.
“When the fire started, we called fire service they said they would come. After about 30 minutes we called the line again, a lady picked the call but said they can’t come because their men are not on the ground that they have gone for another duty.”