No fewer than 20 shops have been razed down by inferno in a Calabar
popular market, Ika Ika Oqua, also known as Marian market in Calabar
Municipal area of Cross River State.
Newsmen who visited the scene, observed that baby
wares, kitchen utensils, as well as some industrial tools amongst others
were mostly affected.
A victim, Mr. Friday Uzoma said that the fire was caused by high voltage which led to a power surge.
He said the inferno started at about 5:00 am on New Year day.
“I am not happy, because we made effort to call the fire service but
they could not respond. They told us that they have no resources to put
out the fire.
“We are starting from the scratch unless for those who sold out the
stock before travelling and others who usually bring their goods from
warehouses.
“A lot of the traders are even in the village for the New Year
celebration but we have called and sent text messages to them about what
has happened, as we speak many of them are on their way back to
Calabar. We lost millions of Naira to this fire,” he said.
As of the time of this report, the police and other security agents
were already on ground to safeguard goods as well as cordon off the area
to stop hoodlums from taking advantage of the situation.