Panel On Onitsha Fire Incident Submits Report, Says 4 Died Not 8
By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
The Panel of inquiry which was inaugurated on 8 June, 2023 by the State government through the Onitsha South LG Chairman Chief Emeka Orji to investigate, make an inquest, examine and to explore the remote and root cause of the incidence that happened on Nov.8, 2022 submitted their report to the Onitsha South LG transition chairman.
The Chairman of the nine committee members Sir Peter Okala, before the hand over in the chairman’s office at the Local Government said that at the cause of the investigations, they discovered that the cause of the explosion was chemical reaction, not a bomb blast as insinuated or assumed by some people.
“So many members of bridge head market sustained injuries and some are still in the hospital while one member’s leg was amputated, three unions was affected by the explosion, Ogbogwu International Market, Chain Saw and Allied and PS Union.
“The rebuilding of shops has started extensively with the approved plan from the Onitsha South Local Government.
“The dead and the injured have not been compensated, the person /persons that caused the explosion is a registered member of the PS union, and has disappeared, had not entered the market since then.
“Members are agitating for the chemical line to be moved outside the market and the promise from the government to assist in rebuilding the demolished shops has not been fulfilled.
“Victims paid #50,000.00 each, totaling 1.6M to the PG Bridge head and demanding for refund. We discovered that only four persons lost their lives contrary to insinuations and the source of the explosion contrary to insinuations was from a registered member of Progressive Science Union (PS) volunteered the information.
The Secretary of the panel of inquiry Committee, Dr Frank Udemmadu revealed that they reached out to an erudite Professor Emeritus, Prof. Okeruru, a chemist from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and he gave them detailed information on chemicals that are inflammable and combustible.
“He pointed out that some categories of chemicals are not supposed to store in a hot or humid areas and in a densely populated environment.
The Committee recommended that government should provide firefighting equipments for bridge head market and fire trucks should be stationed at the market.
“Chemicals of explosive, corrosive and inflammable nature should be banned from all markets in the state. Those that died and the injured has not been compensated, the government should do the needful.
“Government should foot bills for the rebuilding of the shops, most especially, the ones that were brought down to create access for rescue operation and members that lost goods worth hundreds of millions should be compensated as well.
“The affected members that paid #50,000 to the PG of the market should be refunded without hesitation. We do not subscribe for the chemical line to be removed from the market but to monitor, control and make sure that those combustible chemicals be checkmated by formation of a strong task force for the union of the market and other markets in the state.
“The government should provide alternative power source to the markets in the state, most especially solar powered,etc
In his response, the Onitsha South Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Hon.Emeka Orji thanked the committee for their job, stated that handling of chemical issues in the market will be his next target and stated that his next project will be provision of Bridge Head service station while he promised to finish what he has started.
“I’m working very hard to reconstruct and rebuild a new Onitsha south, I want to build an ultra modern market at Ochanja, I started with oduigbo, I demolished it and will rebuild it and other parts of the market will follow suit.
Others that spoke at the event was the former PG of Bridge Head Market Chief Ikechukwu Orizu, Chairman of Chain Saw and Allied, Chief Onyebuchi Umeh, Chairman Stakeholder Bridge Head Traders Association and leaders of thought, Chief Bonaventure Ucheagwu, the Legal adviser to Council Chairman Chief Stanley Okakor Esq and the Council Secretary Mr Paul Onuachalla.
Pic 1 shows the panel chairman during the submission of the report to the transition chairman Onitsha south
Pic 2 shows group photograph of the panel committee, the LG chairman, legal adviser to the TC chairman and LG secretary
It is always important to have accurate information and proper investigation in such tragic incidents. If the panel has found evidence that the number of deaths was actually lower than initially reported, it is crucial to take note of this update. It highlights the importance of thorough investigations and reliable reporting in order to avoid misinformation and false narratives. The focus should now be on providing support and justice for the affected individuals and their families.