Metro

Fire Guts 30 Shops In Anambra Market, Goods Worth Over 300m Destroyed

Published

2 years ago

December 20, 2023

Scene of the incident

Fire has engulfed a section of the popular Nkpor Main market in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state, near the commercial city of Onitsha.

It was gathered that the fire occurred in the early hours of Wednesday.

The PUNCH also gathered that the fire had already razed no fewer than 30 shops before the traders mobilised and managed to put it off before the men of the state fire service arrived at the scene.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the market, Chief Paul Okafor, told journalists in his office that the fire started from a cold room shop and spread to other nearby shops.

He added that over N300 million worth of goods were damaged in the inferno.

The market leader, whose own wine shop was also gutted, said the fire affected shops loaded with paints, curtains, gum, shoe leathers, shoe polish, wines, hot drinks, and thinners, among others.

The market leader lamented that all the phone calls put across to the state fire service did not yield positive results as firefighters did not show up until the traders mobilised and put the fire off.

He therefore called on the state government to station some firefighting vehicles under the flyover bridge at Nkpor main market to serve the three major markets within the vicinity.

He said, “We call on the state and local governments and public-spirited individuals and groups to come to the aid of the affected traders to bounce back to business as soon as possible.

“Goods worth over N300 million were damaged in the inferno and the traders are now counting their losses. This is not good for this Yuletide.”

In his sympathy message to the traders, a patron of Anambra Markets Amalgamated Traders Association and President of Building Materials Traders Association, Chief Jude Nwankwo, expressed his sympathy for the victims and also called on government, individuals and groups to assist the victims.

Nwankwo suggested that market leaders should provide fire extinguishers in their various markets to mitigate the effects of fire particularly at night.

The state Fire Chief, Martin Agbili, could not be reached for comment as calls to his telephone line indicated that it switched off.

Metro

BREAKING: Bodies Of 8 Missing Policemen Recovered In Benue

Published

17 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Lifeless bodies of the eight policemen who were declared missing after a deadly attack on security operatives at Agu Centre, on the border of Katsina-Ala and Ukum LGAs of Benue State, have been recovered.

Dr Justin Shaku, Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA disclosed this to reporters in Makurdi on Monday.

According to him, “this brings the number of officers killed to 11 (10 policemen and one BSCPG)”.

The unfortunate incident occurred on Friday, when a team of security operatives came under the attack of armed invaders.

Three personnel were immediately confirmed dead while eight others were declared missing.

Metro

Police Arrest Three Kidnappers Over ₦6.9m Ransom, Victim’s Murder

Published

17 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested three suspected kidnappers who allegedly killed one of their victims after collecting N6.9 million ransom.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed this in a statement issued on Monday.

Iringe-Koko identified the suspects as Hassan Mohammed (20) of Wandigah Town, Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar (25) of Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed (23) of Hazari LGA, Bauchi State.

She said the arrests followed an investigation into the abduction of Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali.

According to the PPRO, the suspects also kidnapped one Mercy Chinyere on September 12, 2025, at the same location, where they also collected a ransom of N3,500,000 before releasing her.

The statement read, “On 26th August, 2025, the Rivers State Police Command received a distressing report, suggesting the kidnapping of one Humphrey Wagbara, m of Igwuruta-Atali.

“Operatives of the Command attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annexe, acting on this information and in a daring and coordinated operation on 19th September, 2025, at about 0200hrs arrested three suspects at different locations in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of the State in connection with the kidnapping of the victim.”

Iringe-Koko said during interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnappings in the State.

Among their past kidnappings are those of Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali, where they collected a ransom of N6,900,000 before killing the victim.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include one G-3 rifle with Breech Number 10398, one magazine, one Itel phone belonging to Humphrey Wagbara, a kidnapped victim, three short daggers, one jack knife and one stainless short knife,” Rivers police imagemaker said.

Iringe-Koko added that the suspects and exhibits remain in police custody while detectives track other fleeing members of the syndicate and search for additional weapons.

The Command said it arrested a 48-year-old man, Emmanuel George, for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl (name withheld) in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

According to Iringe-Koko, George committed the offence on September 6, 2025, after luring the minor while she was sent on an errand by her aunt.