By ENEH AWODI

Traders in Masaka, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State are counting their losses after a fire incident destroyed the market on Friday at about 10 p.m.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), several traders expressed their devastation and recounted significant losses.

Mr Ahmed Ayuba, a trader, was overcome with grief as he spoke about his losses

?I do not know what to do. I am so devastated. All my goods burnt down to ashes, and there is nothing left.

?I returned from the market yesterday, and people had already paid for some of the goods. Not only have I lost money, but I am also in debt now.

?The government should come to our aid,? he said.

Mr John Uche, an electronics dealer, lamented the chaos and theft that accompanied the fire.

?I lost everything, including the money I kept in my shop. The goods in my shop were bought with money I loaned from the bank.

?People used the opportunity to steal the goods left. It is not a good sight to behold,? he said.

Mrs Zainab Usman, a tailor and vendor of cold drinks, reported losing goods worth three million naira in the fire.

?The fire affected my shop, and I lost goods worth millions of naira. I don?t know if I will recover.

?We want the government to help all of us because we lost goods worth millions,? she said.

Mrs Victoria Ellas, a foodstuff seller, also appealed for government assistance after losing over five million naira in goods.

?Everything I sell got burnt. I lost more than five million naira. My husband died last year, and I am just a struggling widow. Now this has happened,? she said.

Mrs Ifeoma Eze, another trader, described the helplessness she felt witnessing the destruction.

?We were called at night, and by the time we got here, the whole place was already on fire. We could see our goods burn, but there was nothing we could do.

?I couldn?t even get anything from my shop. What do I do now? How do I take care of myself and my children?

?This incident has left many of us helpless, and some are currently in the hospital due to the shock. We need help, and we need it fast,? she appealed. (NAN)

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