By Charles Mgbolu

As you read this,scores of traders and computer part dealers in the nation’s largest ICT market; the computer village in Ikeja, Lagos are still thanking their lucky stars for being able to prevent a colossal loss from taking place weekend when a running generator in front of a stationary store in the market had suddenly exploded into flames; burning up cloths in nearby boutiques.

It was about 2pm in the afternoon. As the fire leapt for the skies, traders and visitors, especially women screamed before taking to their heels as the flames leaped skywards for the overhead high-tension power that ran above the spot in the market.

Others traders, however had attacked the fire fearlessly with everything they’ve got. Detergent was mixed in water and used to douse the burning generator. It was a battle that took barely six minutes before the fire was dead. But then, damage had been done.

By sheer miracle, the stationary store that witnessed the fire was saved as nothing had been on display in front of the shop possibly because of the inconsistent weather that left everyone in doubt when next it would rain.

However, two boutiques around this store with wares on display on mannequins were affected by the fire. The shops, some distance took heat from the fire which singed clothes, shoes and other accessories on display.

Another trader whom eyewitnesses said dealt in second hand clothes also had her entire bale of cloths burnt in the fire. She was being resuscitated by a traders near at the road side as she had reportedly fainted on the spot.

According to the owner of Vas Moore Ventures; the shop where the fire started,“the generator vibrates a lot when it is running but we had not seen it as any problem as it worked well. But today, the vibration caused the plug to eject. It triggered a spark and caused smoke to cover the generator.

We rushed out to quickly put it out but my brother who was ahead of me picked up the generator and threw it into the gutter in front of my shop in the hope that the water there would quench the flames. It was a mistake because the generator had immediately exploded in flames because fuel of the fuel that now poured out of the machine as it tumbled inside the gutter.”

This shop owner man whom fellow shop owners later identified as Mr Azubuike said he was however grateful that no lives were lost.