Ruth Oginyi
Tragedy struck in Afikpo Town of Ebonyi State in the late hours of Tuesday,12th July 2022 as fire razed down completely a section of the popular Eke Market, Afikpo.
Shop with goods worth millions of Naira were destroyed by the fire.
The cause of the fire was not known at press time but the traders who were taken unawares made frantic efforts to save their goods without success because of the fire.
An eyewitness account has it that the fire service in Afikpo could not mobilize to quench the inferno because its equipment was not functioning.
The youths of the afikpo mobilized and stop the fire from escalating to other parts of the market.
Chairman of Afikpo North Local Government Area, Oby Oko Enyim who arrived there at about 6:35 am on Wednesday sympathized with the victims and expressed confidence that as long as there is life, there is hope.
Barr. Oby Oko Enyim who was taken around the scene of the fire disaster by the Chairman of Afikpo Market Traders Association, AMATA, Omezue Johnson Inya Oka described the incident as pathetic and promised that the Government at the Local level would in its capacity make sure the basic things are put in place.
She assured that action me will be initiated to unravel the cause of the inferno.
She advised traders in Eke Market, Afikpo to cultivate the habit of turning off their electrical appliances to avert future occurrences.
Meanwhile, the member representing Afikpo North East Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Ngozi Eziuol has sympathize with the victims of the disaster.
She said “with a sincere heart filled with sympathy and empathy knowing fully well the consequences of this disaster on those directly affected, I pray you shall recover all you have lost in Jesus’ name Amen.
“To Afikpo youths who volunteered to quench the fire amidst the intensity and absence of Fire service Agency at the time, there were most needed. God will reward you here on Earth and in Heaven for your contribution to communal and selfless service to save humanity.
“Afikpo North be consoled and remember the word of God in psalm 34:18″The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit”.
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