By Anaegbunam Abraham Arinze
Traders at Ochanja Market, Onitsha, who recorded colossal
damage cum loss on Wednesday due to the fire disaster from a tanker accident
have blamed theur unfortunate experience on poorly equipped Anambra State Fire
Service.
Some of the traders outcries in Onitsha lamented that the
state’s fire fighters were not able to get to the scene of the inferno more
than seven hours after the fire outbreak.
It is reported that the fire started at the point where the
tanker laden with petroleum product fell in front of Toronto Hospital, Onitsha
near Upper Iweka, spilled its content to Ochanja Market, a distant of more than
500 metres.
The fire which began at about 12.30 p.m. lasted till 7.40
p.m. It was finally put out through individual efforts and help from fire fighters
from Asaba, Delta. Vincent Ugochukwu, a trader at Ochanja market said "I
lost everything in my shop before the intervention of the fire fighters from
Asaba who quenched the inferno".
The Ochanja market is the second largest market in the state
and has more than 10,000 shops and was almost razed as many traders were
sighted clearing the debris.
Apart from Ochanja, shops on Iweka road, Ziks Avenue and
Ozomagala street were equally affected.
Another victim who lost his goods and shop, Chief Godswell
Anyanwu, former Chief Securiy Officer at Ochanja, said everything in his shop
valued more than N12 million got burnt.
Anyanwu, who deals on Electronics, noted with regret that if
Anambra had efficient fire fighters the fire would not have reached Ochanja.
He also said it was painful that in spite of the huge
revenue government collects from the markets in Onitsha it could be that
mindless to provide fire equipment.
He added that it was the combined efforts of residents and
fire fighters from Asaba that ended the fire.
Chief Ikechukwu Ekwegbalu, President-General of the Anambra
State Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), decribed the incident as
unfortunate.
The ASMATA boss advised affected traders to be calm, and
wait for further information from government
He said he was hopeful that the Gov. Willie Obiano would do
something to mitigate the impact of the disaster on the victims.
He, however, condemned the attitude of some miscreants who
threw stones and pebbles on government officials and security agents during the
incident.
It was gathered that Gov. Willie Obiano, who visited the
scene of the fire incident at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, to sympathise with victims
could not reach Ochanja due to possible fear of unruly conduct by the angry
traders
Obiano was quoted in a statement issued to journalists in
Awka to have been saddened and sorry for what happened.
He said that the government would assist those affected and
help to bury the woman and her baby that died.
The statement noted that a committee to unravel the cause of
the disaster had been set up by government.
Obiano assured that the government would revamp the fire
service and provide more equipment for fire fighting.
“The people and government of Anambra are very sorry for
this sad incident. We will ensure that compensation is paid before Christmas.
We will celebrate Christmas in peace,” he said.
Similarly, the Fedral Fire Service (FFS) boss through the
agency's spokes man Ugo Huan says the firefighters could not get to the market
because of angry mob, who pelted stones at them.
The Federal Fire Service (FFS) says a mob stopped its men
from accessing the scene of Wednesday’s fire incident at Ochanja market in
Onitsha, Anambra state.
Ugo Huan, spokesman of the agency, said this in a statement
on Thursday.
“The Federal Fire Service received a call about the fire
outbreak around 2pm,” he said.
“The control room at the headquarters in Abuja immediately
turned out its nearest station at Asaba, Delta State, to attend to the fire.
“Our men immediately headed to the scene but it was not
possible to contend with the heavy traffic at the Niger head bridge, coupled
with the behaviour of an angry mob who pelted stones at them.
“Thus, it was not possible for the firefighters to get to
the scene of fight in such a hostile environment.”
Huan also said that Liman Ibrahim, controller general of the
FFS, was deeply saddened by the incident, and has expressed his condolences to
the victims and their families.
He said the agency is committed to ensuring the safety of
lives and properties in Nigeria.
“The service is always ready to respond to fire outbreaks
and other emergencies across the nation,” he said.
“It is worthy to note that similar situations in recent past
in Sokoto, Uyo, Minna, Ibadan, Osun and Lagos were prevented from escalating to
a major disaster by the Federal Fire Service.
“The case of Ochanja market was an unfortunate one, as one
will wonder why individuals will want to attack firefighters that came to help
put out fire that was threatening lives and ravaging property".
The spokesman appealed to the public to show support and
cooperation in times of emergencies.
Five persons, including a woman and her child, died in the
inferno caused by the explosion of a petrol tanker.
More than 100 shops were reportedly razed and goods such as
clothing and electronic appliances affected by the fire.
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