Following the devastating fire that engulfed a section of Ekiosa Market in Benin City, Edo State, traders are now faced with significant losses as they assess the damage incurred in the early hours of Tuesday.
Located by Third Junction, Murtala Muhammed Way, the market houses around 20 shops containing a variety of items estimated to be worth billions of naira, which were destroyed by the inferno.
Sani Yakubu, a victim and the caretaker of the building, reported that the fire broke out between 1:30 am and 2 am.
Yakubu expressed that traders suffered losses amounting to billions of naira due to the fire, emphasizing that the cause of the blaze remains unknown.
When interviewed, he shared, “I received a call about the fire while at home and was informed that the shops were engulfed in flames, preventing any salvage of goods.
“The affected shops belonged to traders and Bureau De Change operators, resulting in the destruction of various items, including currencies such as dollars, euros, and local currencies,” Yakubu explained.
“No one managed to retrieve any belongings from the shops as provisions, electronics, and generators were all consumed by the fire. The total loss incurred is estimated to be in the billions of naira. We look to God for solace, believing it to be an act of God,” he added.
Another trader, Ugochinyere Francis, revealed her personal loss of over a million naira in the fire that engulfed the shops.
She recounted, “Upon arrival, the intensity of the flames prevented us from taking any action. Despite losing over a million naira worth of goods, I place my faith in God to guide us through this trying time.
“I had a shop in the market, as did my mother. We traded in cosmetics and other articles. The distressing call came around 2 am, but by the time we reached the location, the fire had already spread uncontrollably,” Francis said.
Despite the challenges faced, she made a plea to the authorities for assistance, as their livelihoods were completely obliterated by the fire.
Additional voices from the affected traders echoed the call for support from the state government as they look towards rebuilding their lives.