Fire guts Ikom main market

By Baba Yusuf
Abuja

Over 40 shops, worth millions of Naira, have been gutted by fire at the Ikom main market in Cross River state.It was gathered that the inferno, which started at about 2am on Tuesday and was attributed to power upsurge from the public power supply, could not be contained despite frantic efforts by shop owners to put it out.

A statement issued by the Deputy Director, Cross River state Emergency Management Agency, Mr. David Akate, said the state fire service station in Ikom, which was contacted for intervention, could not act due to complains of lack of facilities to combat the fire.
Director-General of the state emergency management agency, Mr. John Inaku, who visited the scene of the incident, described the destruction as “serious.”
Inaku, who said he was there on a rapid assessment of the destruction, added that efforts would be made by the state government to ameliorate the sufferings of the victims.
According to him, the burnt shops required total rehabilitation and urged the victims to remain calm.

One of the victims, Mr. Augustine Chinedu, who disclosed that he lost virtually all his goods worth millions of naira, said it was devastating and urged government to urgently come to his aid.
Reacting, the chairman of Ikom Main Market Traders Union, Mr. Caleb Agwu, called on government agencies, NGOs and philanthropic individuals and organisations to help in cushioning the effect of the disaster.