Fire Razes Section of Ogbosisi Market in Onitsha, Millions in Goods Destroyed

A devastating fire has swept through a section of the Ogbosisi Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, causing significant losses estimated at millions of naira. The incident occurred on the evening of December 18, 2024, around 8:45 p.m., according to the state police command.

Tochukwu Ikenga, the state police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and praised the swift action of emergency responders, which successfully contained the blaze. The cause of the fire remains unclear, and an investigation is underway. Thankfully, no casualties were reported.

Emergency teams, including the police and fire service, acted quickly to prevent the situation from escalating further. “Following the swift response of the Police and Fire service operatives to the outbreak at Ogbosisi, the situation was brought under control,” Ikenga said. Police have cordoned off the area to prevent looting and safeguard traders’ goods.

Despite efforts to contain the fire, traders at the market reported massive losses. One distraught trader expressed frustration over the timing of the fire, stating, “If the fire had started earlier, it would have been put out. But the devil struck when everyone had gone home.”

Authorities are continuing to assess the damage and determine the exact value of goods destroyed in the inferno.