Explosion: Goods worth millions of naria destroyed in Nsukka

Goods and property, worth millions of naria, have been destroyed by fire at Afor-Opi Market in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.

An eyewitness, Mr Linus Eze, Chairman of Opi Traders Association, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the scene of the incident on Friday that the incident followed a petrol tanker explosion on Thursday evening.

He said the explosion destroyed five shops, goods and property, worth millions of naira at Afor-Opi market around 7 pm.

Eze said that the unfortunate incident happened  when the driver of the tanker tried to dodge pot-holes on the road but lost control and the tanker fell down, exploded and went up into flames.

“Because of petrol spilling from the tanker, fire gutted some shops in the market as people started running helter skelter shouting for help.

“Residents and passers by did their best to quench the fire but it was not possible,” he said.

The chairman said that it was the prompt response of the Enugu State Fire Service that saved more shops from being razed.

Addressing traders, Mr Pius Ezeugwu, representing Nsukka East Constituency at the Enugu State House of Assembly who was at the scene to see things for himself and assess the level of damage caused by the explosion, thanked God that no life was lost.

Ezeugwu said that the incident could have been prevented if Afor-Opi road was tarred, urging the Enugu State and Federal Governments to do something urgently to fix the bad road.

“I thank God nobody died although some people sustained minor injuries.

“This incident is avoidable, it’s because the driver was trying to dodge deep pot-holes that made the tanker to fall and explode.

“I am here as the representative of Nsukka East, whatever affects them affects me. I am supposed to be in plenary session of Enugu State House of Assembly but I am here to see things for myself,” he said.

The lawmaker assured traders whose shops and goods were destroyed by fire that both Federal and State Governments would come to their rescue.

“I am going to use my office to ensure that both National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency will come to assist you so that you will start your businesses again.

“We are going to take audit of what were destroyed so as to present it to the appropriate government agencies for help.

“I commend the State Fire Service from Nsukka and Orba offices,  whom I was told that their prompt intervention saved more shops from being razed by the fire,” Ezeugwu said.

Speaking, Mrs Chinyere Agam, one of those whose shops and goods were destroyed, said she is yet to recover from the shock of watching her shop completely destroyed by fire.

“Government should come to my aid urgently because it is from this shop I get money to take care of my family.

“I lost over N500,000 worth of goods to fire,”she said.

Mr Cosmos Agbo, a Community Leader and former Vice-Chairman, Nsukka Local Government Council, described the petrol explosion as unfortunate but thanked God that no life was lost.

Agbo, however, called on the State and Federal Governments to come and fix the bad Opi road as the road had suffered neglect for so many years.

When contacted, Mr Okwudiri Ohaa, Director of Fire Service in Enugu State, confirmed the incident and said his men responded immediately they received the distress call.

“I commend the people of Opi for calling us immediately as well as cooperating with our men to ensure the fire was put off on time before more damaged was done,” Ohaa said. (NAN)