REPORTER: NKIRU EGWUI
Goods estimated to worth about ₦50 billion have been destroyed, following a fire that gutted the famous Nnewi Electrical Market in Anambra State.
The devastating inferno, which left traders in tears, reportedly started in the early hours of Wednesday and quickly spread to numerous shops, swallowing warehouses packed with costly electrical materials and spare parts.
Thick black smoke billowed into the sky as frightened traders scrambled to save what they could.
Some of the traders were seen dragging out cartons of cables and generators, while others broke down in tears, watching years of hard work go up in flames.
An Eyewitness said the fire spread like wildfire, due to the highly combustible items stored in the market.
Brave shop owners battled the flames with buckets of water and sand, risking their lives amid choking smoke as they waited desperately for emergency responders.
However, anger is mounting over the alleged delay in the arrival of the Anambra State Fire Service.
Residents fear the inferno could spread to nearby homes and other sections of the busy industrial hub, if urgent action is not taken.
Another Eyewitness told Radio Nigeria that the exact cause of the fire could not be immediately determined, but that a power surge was suspected.
Market Officials quickly responded to the scene, disconnecting electric cables to prevent electrocution.
Correspondent Nkiru Egwui reports that the shops owners are pleading with the Anambra State Government to come to their rescue as the loses they incurred were massive.
