No fewer than 10 shops were reportedly razed down in an early morning fire at a section of Afor Nnobi, a local market in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State on Wednesday.
The incident, which occurred around 7am, was said to be caused by high tension cables, which were cut off and they fell on top of a makeshift structure (shop), from where it spread to about 10 shops.
The president-general of the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), Chief Humphrey Anuna, who visited the scene shortly after the incident, confirmed that no life was lost.
He, however, regretted that properties and wares worth millions of naira were lost.
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He ordered an immediate demolition of all illegal structures built under the high tension in the market.
Also reacting, the chairman of the market, Chief Maduabuchi Ezeoke, confirmed that the traders had severally been warned to stop doing business under the high tension.
Ezeoke, who spoke through the former taskforce chairman of the market, Chief Mathew Ogboluogu Nwaneli, said the unfortunate incident would serve as lesson to the defaulters.
He said, “It is a lesson to them that building or selling under high tension is a big risk that can result to sudden death.’’