Over
forty shops worth millions of Naira, have been gutted by fire at the Ikom main
market.
The inferno which
started at about 2am on Tuesday was attributed to power upsurge from the public
power supply and could not be contained in spite of frantic efforts by shop
owners to put it out.
The state fire service
station in Ikom, which was contacted for intervention could not act due to
complaints of lack of facilities to combat the fire.
The Director General
of the state emergency management agency, Mr. John Inaku who visited the scene
of the incident described the destruction as serious.
Mr. Inaku who said he
was there on a rapid assessment of the destruction said efforts would be made
by the state government to ameliorate the sufferings of the victims.
According to him, the
burnt shops required total rehabilitation, urging the victims to remain calm.
One of the victims,
Mr. Augustine Chinedu who said he lost virtually all his goods worth millions
of naira said it was devastating and urged government to urgently come to his
aid.
Miss Agbor Okey, a
fashion designer said the incidents has put her and the family under trauma as
it was the only livelihood of sustenance.
Kelechi Anayo, a
dealer in traveling bags and boxes lamented that he had lost everything in the
shop and wondered what he would do next with his life.
Speaking, the chairman
of Ikom main market traders union, Mr. Caleb Agwu called on government
agencies, NGOs and philanthropic individuals and organizations to help in
cushioning the effect of the disaster.
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