Fire outbreak on Sunday afternoon razed some parts of Nkwo Ogbe market in Ihiala, Ihiala Local Government Area, consuming goods worth several millions of naira.
The inferno, which started from the clothes section of the market at about 1pm, extended to some other parts of the market, including the areas overlooking the expressway.
Many lock-up shops that were not affected, were forced open to assist their owners remove their goods, to stop them from being consumed by the fire.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State government, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof Chukwuma Soludo and Mr Valentine Ozigbo have condoled with the victims of the fire.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba, the Anambra State government condoled with the people, while promising to mobilise the people toward planning, re-designing and building a much more modern market in the town.
Adinuba said, “It is regrettable a good number of the indigenes and residents of the town were adversely impacted by the inferno. The fire claimed not just buildings and market stalls but also vital goods and even cash.’’
Prof Soludo and his PDP counterpart, Ozigbo also paid condolences to the victims of the disaster, while also assuring them that they will do better to improve their welfare, security of their markets when they become governors.