28th September, 2018
Okafor Ofiebor /Port Harcourt
One of the casualties of the nationwide strike which commenced on Thursday was the fruit market in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital.
The market located in D-line axis of of Port Harcourt was gutted by fire which destroyed goods running into billions of Naira as men of the fire service allegedly refused to respond to distress calls.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent in Port Harcourt that immediately the fire started at about 7.30 pm traders and property owners put calls across to the Rivers fire service and were told bluntly that they were observing the nationwide strike.
“This is wicked, all the calls we made to fire service were not responded to. Some people even drove to their office at Aba road yet they refused to come. They later arrived when every of our goods and properties were burnt. Is this fair. Volunteers got tired as they could not put out the fire.”
However, the Director of Rivers State fire service, John Chuckwumati claimed they responded immediately they received the distress calls but on arrival at the scene angry traders who felt that they came late prevented them from putting out the fire, claiming that they came when the market was already burnt down.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike who paid a visit to the burnt market expressed sadness over the inferno at the Fruit and Vegetable Market. He promised that the State Government will come to the aid of the affected traders.
He met angry traders who lamented the loss of their goods and pleaded with him to come to their aid.
Governor Wike who led some members of the State Executive Council and leaders of the state for an on-the-spot assessment, described the fire as huge, adding that the State Government will rebuild the market in no distant time.
“Government will do what it is supposed to do to ensure that the traders continued to earn a living. It is unfortunate that this has happened.
“We will look at the immediate and remote causes and we shall also come to the aid of those who are affected by the inferno. Let me assure you that we will do what we can to resolve it”, he said.
The governor called for the cooperation of everyone in the market, saying that anger on the part of the traders will not solve the problem.
He pleaded with them to remain calm, saying though the fire service responded late, they ought to have allowed them salvage what they could.
A man who identified himself as the market leader said the fire started at about 7pm. He said it was impossible to control the youths who stopped the Fire Service from putting out the fire..