Fire destroys businesses in Rivers Community

A mid-night fire has ravaged goods and properties worth tens of millions in Echieta Nchia Market, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Oyigbo Road section of the market, where phone accessories and foodstuff were sold, was mostly affected by the fire.

Others affected include a groceries shop and an inner strongroom was also burnt.

Though youths from the community who intervened to quench the fire from spreading, were not successful as several businesses were damaged.

Sources said firefighters from Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited arrived at the scene two hours after the fire started and finally put out the fire.

The cause of the fire was not ascertained as of the time of filing this report but eyewitnesses said kegs of fuel and a generator left at the market contributed to worsening the incident.

A victim, Comfort Ollor said that property worth N50 million was destroyed.

According to her: “Fire Outbreak On my Father’s Business Centre at Agbonchia Axis of Eleme Market. Property worth over N50 million was destroyed. What a big loss to my family, especially to the legacies of late Chief Ollor Dede a.k.a Pipeline (Pipe & Sons).”