From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Shops and goods estimated to worth millions of naira has been razed by early morning fire incident that occured at the popular Opolo furniture market near the former NEPA office in Opolo Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
Salient Times News gathered from residence that the inferno started around 4am on Thursday, when the people were still asleep.
Though the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, It was also gathered that a security guard in the market had burned some materials overnight to repel mosquitoes, which might have sparked the blaze.
Mr. Agbedo Matthew, caretaker in one of the affected shops, said he received a distress call around 4a.m. and rushed to the scene, where he met extensive damage.
Mr. Matthew, added that officials of the State Fire Service arrived at about 6:00 a.m, two hours after the inferno had started and tried to put out the fire.
A residence Mrs. Choice Williams, said the blaze began at dawn, engulfing makeshift structures before officials of the Bayelsa State Fire Service arrived at the scene.
“It’s quite a pity, the property owners have lost so much. Most of them are yet to come and see the level of damage. I hope government can assist them for the property owners and business men who have lost their sources of livelihoods to the inferno”
Also speaking, a furniture designer who has a shop at the affected area, Mr. Agbedo Jude, said he arrived at the scene after receiving the distressing call, only to find out that his shop completely razed, with nothing salvageable.
He also appealed to the government for support to get started again.
He said: “Everything a laboured for years in this business has gone within one night of fire incident, I’m empty now, not knowing where to start from.
