Fire razes Oba of Benin market in Edo [photos]

A fire on Monday morning struck the Oba market, named after the Oba, in Benin City, destroying shops and goods valued at millions of naira.

A combined team of firefighters from the federal and Edo state units, the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, and Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation helped put the fire out.

The cause of the fire is yet unknown, but the traders believe it may have been caused by a power surge.

One trader affected by the fire, Osasuwa Anthoy, said she was called at 1am Monday morning. “I ran as quickly as I could but my goods were already razed,” she said.

The market is located close to the palace of the Oba of Benin, in the heart of the state’s capital Benin City. Photos by Usman Bello.