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Fire razes Onitsha plastic market

Some of the items destroyed by the fire included plastic buckets, drums, baskets, chairs and tables, among others.

• March 5, 2021
Fire outbreak
A fire outbreak used to illustrate the story [Photo credit: The Guardian Nigeria]

A Friday morning fire destroyed goods and property worth millions of naira at Amobi plastic market, Onitsha in Anambra.

A witness, who pleaded anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the raging fire was discovered at about 2:00 a.m. at a plaza section of the market.

The source said residents and later, police officers, assisted to quell the fire using buckets of water until firefighters from the state Fire Service arrived about 30 minutes later.

Some of the items destroyed by the fire included plastic buckets, drums, baskets, chairs and tables, among others.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kwara, CSP Haruna Mohammed, said there was no reported case of loss of life or injury sustained during the incident.

“Police operatives led by DPO Central Police Station, Onitsha, SP Ifeanyi Iburu, quickly mobilised to the scene and cordoned-off the area to prevent looting and further catastrophe.

“Fire Service was equally contacted and they responded promptly, and the fire was extinguished with the help of firefighters and other sympathisers in the area,” he said.

Mr. Mohammed said an investigation was ongoing to ascertain the extent of damage and circumstances surrounding the incident.

He advised the public to always apply safety precautions by switching-off all electrical appliances in their homes, shops and workplaces when not in use to avert such ugly incidents.

(NAN)

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