The popular Ojoto Market along the Mile 2 axis of Diobu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been razed by fire, Channels Television reports.
Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in the inferno which eyewitnesses said started due to an electric spark at about 9:20 pm Thursday.
It is believed that diesel and other inflammable substances stored in the market aided the escalation of the fire.
The market chairman Arinze Akugbue said when he was informed that the market was burning, he reported to the Rivers State Fire Service but was told they couldn’t do anything.
Rather, they referred him to the Federal Fire Service which immediately swung into action, pulling their fire truck from the INEC office and deploying it to the market.
Unfortunately, the enraged crowd who were angry that they showed up late attempted to mob the firefighters who were saved by the entreaties of the chairman and operatives of the Azikiwe Police Division.
