Asuquo Cletus
Traders and shop owners at the popular Watt Market in Calabar, Cross River State, have suffered massive losses after a late-night fire razed several shops in the area.
The inferno, which reportedly started around 3am yesterday, spread rapidly due to the congested layout of the market, consuming goods estimated to be worth millions of naira.
The fire reportedly raged for hours before it was eventually brought under control through the efforts of passersby and residents.
Eyewitnesses said the exact cause of the fire had yet to be confirmed, though some speculated that it may have been triggered by an electrical fault.
Speaking on the incident, a shop owner, Grace Effiom, lamented her losses, saying she had just stocked her shop with new goods ahead of the festive season.
“Everything I worked for is gone. I don’t even know where to start again. I beg the government to come to our aid,” she said in tears.
Another trader, Okon Edet, faulted the slow response of the fire service, insisting that quicker intervention could have reduced the extent of the damage.
Efforts to reach the Cross River State Fire Service were unsuccessful, as calls to the agency’s official number did not go through at the time of filing this report.
