On Thursday, an early morning fire demolished a commercial building in Benin City, Edo State, destroying products valued at over N50 million.
The fire started around 4 a.m. at a building on Second East Circular Road, opposite New Market in Benin City, the state capital.
The majority of the building’s shopkeepers traded old clothing and food.
A couple identified simply as Ndidi and Blessing who operated two shops in the building, were said to have lost goods worth N10m.
“We have lost goods worth N10m and our source of livelihood. The government should please come to our aid,” Ndidi lamented.
The fire started after repeated electric sparks from a wire connected to an electricity pole in front of one of the shops and spread to other stalls, threatening the surrounding buildings.
The timely arrival of firefighters from the Edo State Fire Service was said to have saved the situation from degenerating.
However, a trader simply identified as Madam Grace who was said to have lost over N40 million worth of goods alleged foul play and said that she was the target.
She said, “I went to market to buy goods and returned to the shop by 2.am and there was power outage at the time.
“I took my goods into the shops and went to my house. By 5am, I was informed on the telephone that my shop was on fire. I have prayed for those responsible for the inferno. I have lost N40m worth of goods,” she added.
“Apart from Madam Grace, Ndidi and his wife, other traders were said to have lost good worth about N30m,” an eyewitness told our correspondent.
However, when contacted an Edo State Fire Service official in the control room, who identified herself simply as Faith, Thursday night, she said those who were on duty when the fire started were called and promptly went to the scene to put out the fire and prevented it from affecting houses close to the shops.
“Yes, our officials were called when the fire started and the fire was put out. They were also able to prevent the fire from spreading to houses close by,” she added.