Tragedy struck the popular Oyigbo timber market in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State as a devastating fire engulfed the area, leaving in its wake a trail of destruction and financial loss amounting to millions of naira.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 2am on Thursday. Believed to have been triggered by an illegal electrical connection, occurred around 2 am shortly after the restoration of public power supply.
Witnesses recount a swift and relentless spread of the fire, with one victim, Chioma, expressing her dismay, “It was when they restored power supply, because I live close to the marker, (that) I heard a loud sound and the next thing was fire and it was spreading fast.
“A lot of engines, sewing machines, planning machines, and generators were destroyed. None of those machines is less than N2m to N3m.
“They were all damaged and we are left with nothing. This (trading) is the only thing I do to train my children in school,” she added.
Similarly, Chuks, a resident, highlighted the severity of the impact, stating, “Over 20 machines were burnt to ashes. It was because of a faulty electrical connection. So when the light was restored, it resulted in a huge spark and the fire started spreading.”
READ ALSO: While Wike is Dancing in Rivers, Kidnappers Operating Freely in Abuja — Ayo Oyalowo Fumes
The affected area primarily housed the sawmill section, intensifying the devastation as numerous machines were consumed by the flames. The loss is particularly significant as it includes essential tools for various trades, such as sewing machines and power-generating sets.
Efforts to gather information from the state police command were inconclusive at the time of reporting, as the spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, indicated she would provide further details later.