60 Million Worth of Electronics Burn to Ashes in Onitsha

Barely five days after a
mysterious fire ravaged Onitsha Car Paints market, another fire yesterday razed down the Onitsha International Electronics Market, Anambra State.

No life was lost but three security men sustained injures while goods worth about N60 million were destroyed by the inferno which started at about 3am.

National lifewatch gathered that mostly affected was the double musical equipment shop (Amson Electronics) where over N35 million worth of wares were destroyed by fire.

The cause of the fire, which has not been ascertained, started from one of the lock-up shops, according to an eyewitness and one of the vigilante in the market who said he immediately alerted his commander when the fire started.

President General of the market, Mr. Izuchukwu Okoye who expressed shock over the fire incident, commended Governor Willie Obiano for the provision of fire service equipment that was used to put out the inferno adding, “if not for this equipment and readiness of the fire service men at that point in time, the fire would have escalated to the entire market.”

He urged the Governor to extent his hand of fellowship to the market by providing them with fire fighting tools like he did in other markets.

The Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Philip Ezekiel, while speaking on the incident said “I promptly sent my men to the scene, the Okpoko Divisional Police Officer, (DPO) mobilized his men to the scene when contacted”.

He expressed satisfaction that the concerted efforts of the market security operatives, the fire service officials and the police rapidly prevented the fire from spreading.