The Otukpo Main Market in Benue State yesterday, was gutted by early morning fire, which destroyed goods worth millions of naira with over 300 shops razed.
Our correspondent gathered that the fire began at about 5:30am and continued until 7:30am when it was eventually brought under control by fire fighters.
One of the affected traders, Orinya Godwin who spoke with our correspondent explained that the fire fighters arrived early but couldn’t make impact due to poor access road into the market.
According to him, gaining entrance into the market to put off the fire was a serious problem for the fire fighting trucks because there is no access road into the market.
Orinya alleged further that hoodlums took advantage of the situation and looted some of the shops.
According to him, his provision shop was badly affected.
Chairman of the LGA, George Alli, told newsmen that the situation was quickly brought under control by the timely intervention of the Federal Fire Service stationed in Otukpo town.
Alli said his team has so far counted over 300 shops, which were completely razed in the inferno.
He noted that the fire fighting trucks arrived the scene of the fire on time but that there were no roads to immediately tackle the inferno, stressing the need for the expansion of the 50-year-old market.
Governor Samuel Ortom, in his reaction, sympathised with the shop owners and all traders whose investments were affected by the fire even as he appreciated God that no life was lost.
The governor who spoke through his chief press secretary, Terver Akase, said he would personally visit the market to ascertain the level of damage caused by the inferno.
