Over 600 shops, goods destroyed as fire razes old Bida market
- Bida market in Niger state was engulfed in fire on the night of Thursday, March 1, and 600 shops destroyed
- Shops in the market were completely burnt by the inferno which started at about 8.30pm
- Destroyed goods in the market were clothes, motorcycles, building materials, bags of maize, beans, rice, palm oil and poultry products
A raging inferno on the night of Thursday, February 1, razed over 600 shops at the old market in Bida, headquarters of Bida local government area of Niger state.
The fire, which started at about 8.30pm, destroyed goods and other property in the old market, NAN reports.
Legit.ng noted that witnesses said firemen from the Bida Fire Service and Federal Polytechnic Fire Service could not access the burnt section of the market as some shops were still in flames.
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The cause of the inferno could not be ascertained as at the time of this report.
Alhaji Mohammad Badugu, the chairman, Bida local government, told news men that the entire market was engulfed in fire. He said: “We are expecting more firefighting vehicles from Minna as our neighbouring local government firefighting vehicles are not in good condition."
He confirmed that the Bida fire service and Federal Polytechnic fire service, the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and good Samaritans rallied to extinguish the fire.
According to the chairman, all the 600 shops in the old market were completely burnt. He listed goods destroyed to include clothes, motorcycles, building materials, bags of maize, beans, rice, palm oil and poultry products.
Badugu expressed shock at the development, promising that the council would try to rebuild the market without much delay.
The commissioner of police in the state, Dibal Yakadi, confirmed the incidence. He said: “My area commander is leading police personnel deployed to maintain the security of lives and property in the market."
He explained that the police were there to prevent miscreants from stealing and ensure law and order in the market.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the new year started on a sad note for traders in Marian market, Calabar, the capital of Cross River state as an early morning fire destroyed many shops in the popular market, leaving many traders in tears.
Eyewitnesses on ground blamed the inferno, which started in the early hours of Monday, January 1, on high voltage and said the fire service were contacted, but they complained about lacking the tools to help put out the fire.
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Source: Legit.ng
