Barely a week after a chemical explosion rocked the Science and Lab Line of Ogbo Ogwu, Bridgehead Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, shop owners in the market are still mourning and counting their loses from the mishap.

About four persons were said to have lost their lives while scores sustained varying degrees of injury in the incident that occurred around 12.45 pm, which reportedly led to a stampede as traders scampered for safety. More than N850 million was said to have been destroyed alongside 80 shops in the disaster.

One of the traders, Nweke Uchenna, said majority of them had opened their shops for their daily business activities when they heard a loud explosion like a bomb blast. He said thick smoke was coming from many shops and pandemonium ensued as the chemical products were highly inflammable.

He said: “We were in our shops as usual when we heard a loud noise like a bomb blast and we saw thick smoke from some shops upstairs and everyone started running for safety. While some others shouted for help, we saw people carrying bodies from those shops on fire and some were badly burnt while some seemed to have suffocated from the smoke and the stampede.

“We don’t know how much have been lost to the fire but it can be estimated to be between N850 million and N1billion because the goods are strong chemical products that are highly inflammable.”

Reacting, the chairman of the market, Chinedu Ezekwike, told newsmen that the explosion emanated from one of the chemical shops along Progressive Science Union line.

He said: “The chemical explosion that started from one of the shops even collapsed the building and in the process sent four into early graves. We still want the dust to settle so that we find out from the debris if there are more deaths. But scores were injured.

“The explosion caused thick smoke and used iron and stones from the shop where it exploded from to hit some people also. We fear the casualty figure may increase. As you can see, we are putting up efforts to protect the market from the fire and two trucks of the fire service men are fighting and have succeeded in putting off the fire.”

A member of the caretaker committee of the market, Comrade Peter Okala, while lamenting the deaths recorded in the incident, stressed the need for those who have knowledge of chemical substances to be dealers of such. He also accused the immediate past regime of the market led by Chief Sunday Obinze of not procuring fire fighting trucks for the market despite the huge amount generated.

“Most traders who deal in chemical products in the market do not know how to handle them. Besides, if the former executive of the market had procured fire fighting trucks, it would have helped in a situation like this. Unfortunately, the huge sum they generated went into their private pockets,” he stated.

On his part, the Chairman, Onitsha South Local Government Area, Mr Emeka Orji, who stormed the area with members of his staff on hearing the news, described the incident as unfortunate, regretting that the decongested market almost made it difficult for fire fighters to put out the fire.

“We are happy that the Anambra State Fire Service came on time to prevent the inferno from spreading. Our proactive measures about fire outbreak also paid off because we had put in place fire fighting gadgets in some lines and that was what the traders and market task force team used to fight the fire before the arrival of the state fire service,” he said.

Orji, who noted that the number of casualties could not be ascertained, expressed joy that the injured who were rushed to nearby medical facilities were responding to treatment.

He said: “I contacted the state fire service chief, Martin Agbili, who deployed his men that battled the fire in collaboration with their counterparts from Asaba, Delta State.

“I also contacted Divisional Police Officer, Fegge, Rabiu Garuba, who deployed officers and men to guarantee security of goods belonging to the traders.

Director, Fire Service in the State, Engr. Martin Agbili, who confirmed the incident, said the fire outbreak was caused by a heavy chemical explosion at Ogbo Ogwu Market.

“Immediately, we deployed our firefighters and fire fighting trucks to the scene of fire. During the fire fighting operation, firefighters from the Federal Fire Service attached to Anambra State were also there fighting the fire.

“The explosion which led to the collapse of part of the market building and fire outbreak caused the loss of life of some people. The total number of casualties have not been ascertain as the time of this report.

“The cause of fire was an explosion which emanated from a chemical stored in the market. You know there are inflammable materials you don’t just store anyhow. There are designated places they’re meant to be stored. Besides, there must be enough ventilation in the place. Otherwise, it will heat up to a point it will expand and lead to explosion. That was what happened.

“But before fire started, there was a vibration that caused the collapse of the building. A lot of safety measures have been taken to protect the entire market. There are casualties but we can’t ascertain the actual number of death and the injured.

“There were about 80shops affected in the incident. It was however a section of the market, where chemical equipment including acid are stored. Some of these materials don’t like water. But we were able to manage the situation with our chemical foam compound.

“Some persons were trapped in the debris. It’s after excavation that we’ll know the actual number of casualties. They were complaining about a woman whose whereabouts were yet unknown.”

On how to prevent a reoccurrence, Agbili said: “Such inflammable materials are not meant to be in such confined space where there is not much ventilation and air. Those items are supposed to be stored in warehouses where they can conveniently take their customers to. The traders can have their offices in the market.”

Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, while corroborating the Fire Chief, said the situation was handled following the arrival of the deputy commissioner in charge of operation and operatives of fire service.

It was however gathered that barely 24 hours after the inferno was put out by the fire fighters, fresh fire broke out at the same market early Wednesday morning. But for the intervention of the fire service that remained at the market since the Tuesday incident, the inferno would have continued at the market.

According to the Publicity Secretary of the Bridge Head Market Traders Association, Sir Peter Okala,”we came to the market this morning and discovered that the fire had started again, and because the fire service men were there since yesterday, the fire could not continue and the fire service had to fight it to the end.

“The problem we have in the market is that past leadership of the market did nothing to protect the market despite the huge revenue that they were collecting.

“Also, all the exit routes in the market have been blocked with the construction of illegal structures and shops. Hence when incidents like this happen, people are trapped. That explains the number of deaths and casualties during the fire incident”

Okala urged Governor Charles Soludo to expedite action in improving fire facilities around the market and other markets in the state.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with families of those who died in the explosion. Buhari, in a condolence message by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, said he shared the pain of loss with those who had investments in the market. He also prayed that almighty God would grant the injured quick recovery, just as he urged all emergency, humanitarian and security agencies to provide all the necessary support for the victims. He also urged security agencies to ensure thorough investigation into the incident.

Also, Governor Chukwuma Soludo sympathized with traders who lost their wares and families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident. He commended the gallantry and quick response of the State Fire Service personnel who were on hand to extinguish the fire and prevented it from spreading further and causing more havoc.

He called on the market leadership and traders to support the effort of the present administration to relocate the market from such an enclosed location to the ongoing ultra modern pharmaceutical hub in Oba.

He assured of working round the clock to deliver on his mandate of achieving a livable and prosperous homeland where everyone will live, work and enjoy.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, during a visit to the victim in nearby Asaba, Delta State where they are being treated, pledged government’s continued assistance and visit to the victims with provision of medical services.

Obidike said: “I was in Asaba with my medical personnel and the victims are responding to treatment. We shall continue to assist and visit those victims and provide medical services for them, because it is an unfortunate incident.

“Preliminary findings revealed that some containers of chemicals exploded at the Government Line in the market and unfortunately, many people got injured while some lost their lives. Goods worth millions of naira were damaged in the inferno.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives, many injuries and material losses recorded as a result of this unfortunate incident.” (The Nation)

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