Imo Timber Traders Count Losses As Fire Destroys Market

Timber traders in Imo State have suffered losses from the fire outbreak at the popular Timber Market, along Wetheral Road Owerri, the capital of Imo State.

Some of the traders who spoke with LEADERSHIP in Owerri, yesterday, stressed that the inferno which started at about 1am yesterday, consumed over 200 shops and goods worth over N5 billion.

Our correspondent who visited the market reports that the fire was still raging in some parts of the Market 1 on Monday, despite efforts by operatives of the Federal Fire Service to put the fire off.

One of the traders, Darlington Chinaza, who is the chief executive officer of Bekee Global Furnitures, said about 13 industrial machines, each worth N6 million were burnt, although the actual cause of the inferno was not yet ascertained.

Another trader Chinemerem Ikerionwu called on relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the unfortunate incident.

“People offloaded goods worth several millions last night and went home only to be called hours later that the market was on fire. This is unbearable. The government should probe this incident.

“A customer came here and bought goods worth N7.5 million. He said he was coming this morning to carry them. I don’t even know what he will do now. Will he seek a refund? If he does that, where will the shop owner get it from?” he asked.

Also, another trader who pleaded anonymously said: “I lost my two industrial machines and other items. We didn’t take out a single pin from the shops. Everything was lost, this is unbearable.

“It is a black Christmas for us. We don’t know where to go from here. Nobody knows the cause of the outbreak. We lost over N4 billion here”.

An eyewitness, Benjamin Onyewuchi, said efforts made by fire fighters to quench the inferno proved abortive.

He however called on Governor Hope Uzodimma, to come to the aid of the victims in whatever possible way, to ameliorate their plight.

“This market provides employment for many youths and artisans as well as loaders and other casual workers.  Today, they have all been rendered jobless. We call on the government to provide  soft loans or other interventions to ease the plight of these victims, some of whom obtained bank loans to buy goods for the season’s sales,” he said.

When contacted, the zonal public relations officer of the Federal Fire Service, Zone “J” (Imo and Abia),  Mike Anowa, described the accident as unfortunate.