Goods Destroyed As Fire Guts Rivers Oil Mill Market

Published

1 year ago

March 12, 2023

Editor

Goods and property worth millions of naira were destroyed following a fire incident at the oil mill market along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Although the cause of the fire was not immediately ascertained, it was learnt that it started early Saturday when the traders were still in their houses.

The oil mill market is a popular mid-week market situated in Rumuokwurusi community in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

The market attracts traders who bring their goods from neighbouring states on Wednesdays.

An eyewitness said the fire which started at about 6:45am raged for several hours before firefighters arrived to put it out.

While counting their losses, some of the traders lamented the impact the inferno would have on their businesses, even as they called on Governor Nyesom Wike to come to their aid.

A middle-aged woman who simply gave her name as Ebere said she was still asleep when her phone rang, only for the caller to break the sad news to her.

She said, “This morning, I was still sleeping when I received a call that the market was on fire. When I got there, all my goods and those of others had been destroyed.

“A trailer load of yam, garri and charcoal which we off-loaded all burnt.

“Please, Governor Wike, come and help us. We are dying because of this fire!”

Another victim who said she was a widow cried uncontrollably saying she borrowed money to purchase the goods in her two shops, which had been consumed.

“I am a widow, my husband died since 2007. I borrowed the money that I used in buying things and I am still paying interest.

“My two shops and all the tubers of yam I bought have burnt to ashes. Who is going to help me? How do I pay back the money I borrowed?

“That is what I am thinking now,” she said while fighting back tears.

Speaking on the incident, the Chairman, Community Development Committee, Rumuokwrushi, O. C Wosu, said the cause of the fire was still unknown even as he expressed happiness that no life was lost.

“I got distressed calls from many traders calling me that some section of the oil mill market was on fire.

“I quickly called the fire service. As God will have it, the Total E&P fire service, the Shell fire service also came, and they were able to contain the fire.

“I thank God that there was no casualty. The traders’ goods were affected, you know, goods, including buildings worth over N500,000.

“I call on the Rivers State and the local government to come and assist these people,” he pleaded.

Tragedy Struck In Osun As Three siblings, Mother Die In Auto Crash

Published

6 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

Three siblings and their mother, identified as Cecilia were reported dead in a ghastly auto accident in Osun State on Saturday.

It was gathered that a car heading to Ibadan from Osogbo had a head-on collision with a motorcycle carrying a woman and four of her children back home from a vigil at Odeomu in Ayedaade local government area.

According to an eye witness Usman Ademola, the motorcyclist carried two of the children in front, another one in the middle while a toddler was wrapped behind the woman.

According to VANGUARD, the two children died on the spot in the incident that occurred between Odeomu and Oogi where the motorcycle was headed.

Also, the woman and the motorcyclist identified as Abraham died while the child behind the woman seems to have survived the incident.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that a mob that gathered at the scene set the car ablaze along with two of the occupants after the driver had escaped from the scene.

Osun police command spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola added that the two occupants were rescued from the car by police operatives and were rushed to a hospital in the state capital.

She added that policemen were deployed to the area to maintain peace and order.

Metro

Soldiers, Traders Clash In Abuja Market

Published

6 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has deployed its operatives to Banex – an electronics and telecommunications gadgets market, in Abuja, after a fight broke out between soldiers and some traders on Saturday.

Some civilians were seen in a viral video overpowering some soldiers in a fight at the popular market, while some scampered for safety over the fear of reprisals.

The Defence Headquarters, and the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu could not be reached for comments as of press time.

A source present at the scene of the pandemonium said the fight occurred over the sale of a mobile phone.

“There’s a problem at Banex now. Some soldiers came to complain about a phone, and during an argument with the traders, a fight ensued,” the witness said.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Benett Igweh has deployed officers of the FCT Intelligence Response Team to the scene of the incident.

Metro

Okuama/Okoloba Impasse: Women Protest In Black Attire, Raise Issues [PHOTOS]

Published

15 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

The protesting women of Okoloba community

Protesters who are majorly women from Okoloba community, Delta State, on Saturday, May 18, 2024, took to the street to protest what they called the return of armed youths of Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.

INFO DAILY reports that Okoloba community in Bomadi Local Government Area and Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, all in Delta State have been at loggerhead over land dispute and others.

The protesting Okoloba women in black attire staged the peaceful protest along the coastal fringe of Koloba community, chanting against violence and bloodbath.

The placard carrying women, led by the chairlady of Okoloba Community, Mrs Timipakebi Goodwin, and secretary, Mrs Mary Koibi, alleged that the armed youths of Okuama were threatening the peace of the riverine area.

Some of the protesting Women

Some inscriptions on the placards read: ‘We say no to violence’; ‘enough of the killings on our land;’ ‘armed Okuama youths returning in a commando style;’ ‘we say no to the return of armed youths of Okuama;’ ‘resettle Okuama people among their Ewu brothers in Ughelli South LGA;’ ‘we mourn the killing of the 17 soldiers,’ among others.’

Reading a letter to newsmen, a copy of each she said was submitted to the police, DSS, NSCDC, JTF as well as the acting chairman of Bomadi Local local Government Council, Mrs Goodwin noted that the latest killing by the youths of Okuama showed that they could kill human beings at the slightest provocation.

The letter which contained an S.O.S. to the Federal Government, further reads: “First, we the women of Okoloba Community sympathize with the killing of 17 soldiers and officers of the Nigerian army on peace and rescue mission to Okuama, following the kidnap of our son. We sincerely mourn their untimely death and pray for the repose of their souls. We also pray for their families.

The protesting women

“However, less than 24 hours after the exit of the troops from Okuama, a fresh crisis erupted with another neighbouring community, culminating in the killing of one person while three other persons were seriously injured. The person who was killed and those sustaining machete wounds were alleged to have gone there to loot.

“The latest killing showed that the people of Okuama can kill a human at the slightest provocation; the sanctity of human life means nothing to them. It also shows that neighbouring Ijaw communities like Okoloba are not safe.

“So, resetting the people of Okuama in their present location, which is in-between communities in Bomadi Local Government Area, is an attempt to encourage further communal clashes and bloodbaths.

“Just last week, youths of Okuama Community came out of the Mein-toruabubor creek, which leads to Ewu, on three speedboats and all of them on camouflage. They shot sporadically in the air before proceeding to OKuama. They moved to and fro the creek three times, and at every time they shot their guns in the air at the entrance of the creek.

“We are calling on the federal government to come to our aid, and the panacea to these incessant clashes and killings is for the government to relocate Okuama to Ewu clan in Ughelli South Local Government Area, where they truly and rightly belong.

“Resettling them among their own people in Ewu clan of Urhobo land will foster mutual trust among themselves as they are of the same ancestry and speak the same dialect”.