Midnight Fire Destroys Multi-Million Naira Goods in Anambra Market

Goods and property worth millions of naira were destroyed in a midnight fire that ravaged several shops at the Mgbuka Obosi Old Motor Spare Parts Market in Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the fire broke out at midnight on Saturday, primarily affecting three shops, including a provision store. The blaze was reportedly caused by a power surge resulting from a faulty electrical connection in one of the affected structures.

Chief Samuel Ifurunwa, the market chairman, recounted the incident when visited on Sunday. He said he was alerted around 3 a.m. on Saturday, and the market’s security team immediately began rescue efforts.

“I was called around 3 a.m. that Mgbuka Obosi Market was on fire. It was said that someone had made an electrical connection in his shop on Friday evening. When power was restored around 3 a.m., the connection sparked a fire. Security operatives discovered the fire originated from one of the makeshift structures that had been electrified the previous day,” Ifurunwa explained.

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He added that the power surge caused weak wires to spark, igniting the fire, which spread to two other shops despite efforts to extinguish it. The fire was further fueled by petrol stored in the provision shop, causing it to escalate. Although firefighters from Okpoko eventually extinguished the blaze, three makeshift structures were severely damaged.

The man responsible for the faulty connection has been arrested, as the market has strict rules allowing only authorized electricians to handle electrical work. One of the affected shop owners had reportedly warned the man not to proceed with the connection.

In his defense, Sunday Ezekwe, the shop owner who made the connection, said, “I was called around 3 a.m. that the market was on fire. I don’t know if the connection I made caused it because I wasn’t there. I was using electricity before someone disconnected mine, so I had it reconnected. I did not store fuel in my shop, but there was fuel in my generator.”

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The Anambra State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that firefighters were dispatched immediately and battled the blaze for several hours before returning to the station at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday. The fire, attributed to a power surge, destroyed two stores and a provision shop, but no lives were lost.

The Fire Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, urged the public to remain safety-conscious, emphasizing the destructive potential of uncontrolled fires.

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