A raging inferno has consumed a section of the biggest market in Markurdi, Benue State capital with about many shops and goods worth millions of naira destroyed.
Terver Akase, Benue government spokesperson, said the fire only touched a section of the market along George Akume Road at about 6:30 p.m.
He explained that the market containing row of lock-up shops, was built by former Governor Gabriel Suswam to reduce the stress of trading.
The market served as a temporary shelter for victims of the devastating flood in 2017 and residents who fled their villages at the height of violence by herdsmen between late 2017 and early 2018.
A cross section of traders who spoke with Business Day lamented their huge losses. They said, they did not know what was responsible for the out break.
Chukwu Ogechi said she was called to rush to the market at about 8pm when the fire started. But she regretted that even though she arrived the scene, there was nothing she could do to salvage the situation.
Another trader Muhammad Bello, who sells kitchen utensils, said his shop worth N6 million was razed by the fire.
He decried the delay from the state fire service to respond to the emergency. He said prompt response from personel of the service would have reduced extent of destruction.
Addressing the victims on wednesday, Governor Samuel Ortom pledged to support the victims whose shops were affected by the fire at modern market with the sum of N50,000,000 to cushion the effect of the damage done .
“Shop owners who have been affected directly will benefit from the funds while a commission of inquiry will be set up to know the cause of the frequent fire outbreak and ways to resuscitate the market,” He added.
