The old Automobiles Spare Parts Market popularly known as Mgbuka market located in Awada area of Onitsha, Anambra State was in the wee hours of Saturday morning gutted by fire.
Though no life was lost in the inferno, a trader whose identity could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this story was said to have slumped and was rushed to hospital after watching his shop destroyed by fire.
The information has it that the man shouted, “I’m finished” and passed out. An eye witness said that it took the effort of bystanders to get the man to the hospital. He said, “Bystanders rushed him to the hospital. We don’t know his state of health as of now”. The incident occurred around 01.30 am on Saturday when all of us got a text message that the market was on fire and rushed to the place,” an eyewitness told our correspondent.
While the cause of the inferno was yet to be ascertained, property worth millions of naira were said to have been destroyed. Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Haruna Mohammed said firefighters responded swiftly to the emergency call saying that no life was lost in the incident.
He said, “At about 01.30 am, there was a fire outbreak at old Automobiles Spare Parts Market,Awada.
“Following the distress call, police patrol team led by the DPO Awada Division, Tony Adeyi rushed to the scene and alerted the fire service department and other emergency units which also responded promptly and put off the fire.
“The area was cordoned off by the police to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the situation to loot.
“One person whose identity is yet unknown collapsed and was taken to the hospital for medical attention.
“Cause of the fire and value of property destroyed are yet to be ascertained.
He said that that the Commissioner of Police, CP John Abang had ordered for a discreet investigation to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident, even as he also empathised with the victims of the inferno. News Express
