A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday at the Mgbuka Obosi Old Motor Spare Parts Market in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, causing extensive damage to goods and property estimated to be worth millions of naira.
The inferno, which started around midnight, primarily affected three shops, including a provision store, and was reportedly caused by a power surge linked to faulty electrical connections.
The blaze began in one of the market’s makeshift structures where poor electrical wiring was suspected to be the catalyst for the fire.
Chief Samuel Ifurunwa, chairman of the market, disclosed that he was alerted to the fire at approximately 3 a.m. on Saturday. Market security operatives had responded promptly to the emergency, but their efforts to control the fire were initially unsuccessful.
Chief Ifurunwa described the sequence of events: “I received a call around 3 a.m. on Saturday informing me that Mgbuka Obosi Market was ablaze. The initial reports indicated that the fire started from a shop where an unauthorized electrical connection had been made the previous evening. When power was restored around 3 a.m., the faulty connection sparked a fire. The flames quickly spread to two other shops.”
The market chairman emphasized that the fire was exacerbated by the presence of fuel in one of the affected shops, which belonged to a provision seller.
“The security operatives reported that the shop contained fuel, which accelerated the fire’s spread. Despite their attempts to control the blaze, it continued to ravage the area. We had to call for help from the fire services in Asaba, Main Market, and eventually Okpoko,” he added.
Sunday Ezekwe, the individual responsible for the illegal electrical connection, was apprehended following the incident. Ezekwe claimed he was unaware whether his connection directly caused the fire.
“I received a call about the fire, but I wasn’t present at the market at the time. I had previously used electricity until someone disconnected it. I then purchased wire to reconnect it as advised. I did not store fuel in my shop; there was only fuel in my generator, which I use for my business,” Ezekwe explained.
The incident has sparked significant concern within the market community. Chief Ifurunwa stated that there has been a strong warning against unauthorized electrical work within the market.
“We have made it clear that only the electrician recognized by the market authority is allowed to work on electrical connections. Anyone found violating this rule will be handed over to the police,” he said.
The Anambra State Fire Service, led by Fire Chief Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed that firefighters were dispatched promptly to the scene.
In a statement, Chiketa detailed the response efforts: “At 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, we received a distress call regarding a fire at the Mgbuka Obosi Market. Our firefighters were immediately deployed to the scene.”
“After several hours of intense efforts, the fire was extinguished by 5:30 a.m. We managed to contain the blaze, which affected two stores and a provision shop. Fortunately, no lives were lost.”
The Fire Chief also issued a public safety reminder: “The general public is advised to exercise caution and ensure proper safety measures to prevent such incidents. Fire can be extremely destructive if not controlled promptly.”
In response to the fire, the market community is now focused on assessing the damage and implementing measures to prevent future occurrences. Efforts are underway to support the affected shop owners and investigate the full extent of the damage caused.
The fire at Mgbuka Obosi Market highlights ongoing concerns about electrical safety and the need for stringent regulations and oversight to prevent similar incidents. The market’s management is calling for increased vigilance and adherence to safety protocols to safeguard businesses and properties in the future.
