Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has expressed sadness over the fire that destroyed goods worth millions of naira on Tuesday at the popular fruits Market at Marian in Calabar.

The governor disclosed this in a statement by his deputy chief press secretary, Linus Obogo, on Wednesday.

“I am saddened by the news of the fire outbreak at the Marian Market and the attendant loss of goods and property,” said Mr Ayade. “I deeply sympathise with the traders whose goods may have been destroyed as a result of the fire incident.”

He added, “I am worried about the recurring incidents of fire outbreaks at the market. As a government, we are looking into how we can put a stop to it. It has happened one time too many.”

The popular market was gutted by fire on Tuesday, and over 30 lockup shops were affected.

Olumayowa Olomola, the commanding officer of the Calabar command of the Federal Fire Service, said the fire was caused by a gas explosion in one of the lockup shops.

“The fire started from one of the shops where the occupant, a woman who was boiling beans, slept off. The woman in question had another cylinder filled up with gas in her shop, and this led to the explosion when what she was cooking got burnt,” said Ms Olomola.

She said no life was lost in the incident.

(NAN)