By Nwabueze Okonkwo

ONITSHA—Goods and property worth over N90 million naira were yesterday evening razed by a mysterious fire at car paint dealers market located along Modebe Avenue by Ozomagala junction, near Saint Andrew’s Anglican Church, Odoakpu, Onitsha.

The fire incident, according to eye witnesses, started at about  6pm and gutted one shop before the intervention of men of Anambra State Fire Service, Okpoko Division.

But speaking on  the incident, Chairman of the market, Mr. Anike Samuel who conducted newsmen round the scene of the incident, said the fire started slowly at about  2:30pm  while they were holding a meeting of the market union. He thanked the Anambra State Fire Service Okpoko and the Main Market station which were on hand to put off the fire before it escalated.

Anike said, “I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what is happening.  I am afraid, the goods destroyed here were over  N30 million but up till now, as I am speaking to you, nobody knows the cause of the fire”.

He further declared: “We are afraid because we have not had electricity in this line  for a long time because our transformer spoilt.”

A trader, who preferred anonymity gave the name of the shop owner where the fire incident started as Mr. Obinna, a native of Agbani in Nkanu Local Government Area of Enugu state.

The goods mostly affected were car paints, marbles, tiles, aluminum and other goods. The goods were  stored in a ware house  in large quantities.

Another trader, Chief Samuel Onuorah, who deals on aluminum products told our correspondent that he lost over N2 million while Chief Chukwuma Maduewesi, said he lost more than N20 million.

They also expressed shock over the incident which they described as mysterious.