The non-indigenes group, Unified Non-Indigenes in Bayelsa State, on Monday visited the Mechanic village alongside traditional rulers of various ethnic groups as victims count their losses.

President of Unified Non-Indigenes Association in Bayelsa Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, who conducted newsmen around the property destroyed by the inferno pleaded with the state government to assist those affected to return back to business.

He noted that goods worth over N400 million, vehicles and several shops have been destroyed by the Sunday night fire incident.

The traditional rulers of various ethnic groups doing business in the area took turns to console the victims and prayed for their recovery and appealed to Bayelsa government to assist the victims.

According to artisans and technicians working in the mechanic village, the fire outbreak occurred on Sunday night about 3am when the traders were at their various homes.

The Deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrujakpo, had visited the scene and pledged assistance to victims and set up a committee to probe the cause of the incident.

Though, the cause of the inferno could not be ascertained at the moment, but those doing business in the area suspect electrical fault to be the cause of the fire incident.

A spare part dealer in the village, Stanley Ejike, whose shop and good worth over N10 million were burnt by the inferno, said though the incident has affected him adversely, but praised that no life was lost.

He said about 13 vehicles parked at the arena for repairs were also burnt down by the fire, adding that the incident has caused hardship to several people doing business in the mechanic village.

The car dealer said it took the intervention of the fire fighters to prevent the inferno from escalating to nearby buildings.

Chairman Automobile Technician Association (NATA) in Bayelsa, Mr Paniebi Abalaba, said the mechanic village built during the administration of then Governor Goodluck Jonathan some years ago, is now decongested and pleaded with the state government to expand the mechanic village.

Another spare parts dealer, Mike Eze, who claimed that his goods worth N50 million were engulfed by the fire, lamented the hardship caused by the inferno to him and his business.

He said: “I just don’t know where to start now, I imported my goods last week, and now fire has destroyed them all, it’s a very difficult time for my business.

“Some owners of shops close to me are in shock, some who fainted after the incident are in the hospital now, but we are sure God will help us out,” he said.

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