By Ambrose Ologide
Goods and properties worth several millions of naira were Destroyed when market Road stores was engulfed in a midnight fire on Tuesday 5th December , 2023 .
However no life was lost at the time of filing this report.
The cause of the inferno was not immediately known but a young man who spoke on condition of anonymity , alleged that it was caused by electric spark in one of all zink built store where inflammable products were stored .
Another source alleged that it was caused by the flame of a burning boat that contained smuggled petroleum products as he also alleged that a particular taskforce men on smuggled petroleum products set the said boat ablaze when and that driver escaped into the market area, prompting the said taskforce to set the boat on fire .
Meanwhile some of the victims of the inferno were seen on tears raining curses on those behind fire disaster when our correspondent arrived the ill-fated market .
The victims mostly female traders accused hoodlums ( area boys ) of deliberately putting their stores on fire on a regular bases for the purpose of looting mostly during odd hours .
One of the victims Mrs Helen ( surname witheld ) stated that most area boys live at the other side of river opposite the market .
She alleged that they came with speed boats during such alleged nafarious operations even to the knowledge of security men .
She also alleged that the said area boys poured petrol on stores that were not affected by the inferno initially for the purpose of looting.
She pointed at that young men scavenging burnt zinks and other iron items during the media chat.
” You can see the level of wickedness. “They are not even ashamed ; they are happy while we are crying. And nobody is doing anything about it.
” They do this when they are in need of money . ” She further alleged.
When the Executive Chairman of Warri South Local Government Council Dr Michael Tidi was contacted for his reaction , he attested that it was an incident too many.
The number one citizen of Warri South Local Government Area assured that he will set up a committee to look into the matter and that the committee ‘ s findings will be made known to the press.
Dr Tidi however warned against storing of inflammable substance in the market in order to forestall a reoccurrence of such incident.
The Warri South Local Government Council boss had earlier sympathized with victims of the fire disaster.
He thanked God that the unfortunate fire incident did not claim any life.
