Monday, March, 23 2026 - Traders and property owners are counting heavy losses after a midnight fire gutted the Plumbing Materials Section of the Head Bridge Market near the Ogbo-Ogwu Medicine Market in Onitsha.
The fire, which broke out around midnight on Saturday,
destroyed goods worth millions of naira, prompting the deployment of
firefighters from Anambra and Delta states to contain the blaze.
The market, located along the busy Onitsha-Awka Expressway
near the River Niger Bridge, was filled with distraught traders on Sunday as
many lamented losses accumulated over decades.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu,
visited the scene to assess the extent of damage and ordered an investigation
into the incident.
During the visit, some traders were seen salvaging remnants
of their goods, while others sorted through debris to assess their losses.
Although no casualties were recorded, the cause of the fire
had yet to be officially determined as of press time. Some traders, however,
attributed the incident to excessive heat.
Eyewitnesses said the fire raged for several minutes before
firefighters arrived.
“The fire started around midnight. Security personnel
alerted traders, but before many could arrive, a large section of the market
had already been consumed,” a trader, Chris Okorie, said.
Another victim, Ijeoma, said she arrived in the morning to
find her shop and warehouse completely destroyed.
“It is a huge loss. The goods we have built over the years
have been reduced to rubble. The entire business community is in shock,” she
said.
A trader identified simply as Uche described the incident as
devastating, noting that some victims lost everything.
“One trader collapsed on seeing that nothing was left of his
shop. He had to be revived by sympathisers,” he said.
Speaking during the visit, Orutugu expressed sympathy with
the affected traders and assured them of the command’s support in securing the
area.
He said preliminary findings suggested the fire might have
been linked to heat generated from stored inflammable materials and possible
non-compliance with safety standards.
“Investigation has commenced to determine the actual cause
of the fire. We commend the swift response of emergency responders, whose
intervention prevented further spread,” he said.
The police chief urged traders to adhere strictly to fire
safety regulations, particularly in the storage of inflammable materials.
He was accompanied by the Divisional Police Officer of Head
Bridge Division, CSP Onyinaya Uche, and other stakeholders.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the market, Chinedu
Ezekwike, confirmed the incident and commended firefighters for their prompt
response.
Also confirming the development, the Anambra State Fire
Service said the cause of the fire remained unknown but described the incident
as severe, noting that significant property was destroyed while some goods were
salvaged.
Firefighters were still at the scene as of Sunday,
continuing damping operations.
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