Goods and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed following a fire which destroyed goods and property at the popular ‘Rumuomasi Morning Market’ in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Tuesday night.

Already, most of the victims are counting their losses while a few struggled to salvage what they could lay their hands on.

Some of those affected told The PUNCH that the fire started between 7:30 pm and 8 pm on Tuesday following a spark immediately after power was restored.

The PUNCH correspondent who visited the scene of the fire on Tuesday night reports that scores of traders were seen crestfallen while some cried openly as they watched their goods go up in flames helplessly.

Federal and Rivers State firefighters as well as those from oil firms who were handy did great to battle the fire but had difficulty in accessing the main point of the inferno, though they later put it out eventually.

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Also, policemen kept vigil at the scene of the fire to ensure that miscreants didn’t take advantage to loot goods and other items.

One of the affected traders and former Chairman of the Rumuomasi Morning Market, Mr Anthony Chikere, who spoke to our correspondent on Wednesday afternoon said he was at home when he received several telephone calls about the incident.

Chikere, who deals in wholesale materials, including laces, said he lost goods of over N100m to the fire and appealed to the state government to assist the victims.

He stated, “We closed yesterday (Tuesday) and left here (the market) some minutes past 6 pm to 7 pm. Not up to an hour after we got home, we were called that there was a fire incident.

“So, before we got here, the fire had destroyed many places. They said it happened when power was restored. My shop and those of a lady selling weavon were the major victims on this line because we lost everything.

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“I sell big laces, Damat, Senator materials, satin materials. There is no type of bale material you won’t find here. We even have machines for urgent sewings.”

On the estimate of what he lost, he said, “If I didn’t lose anything, I have lost N180m in this shop because we have not even opened three bales we brought in within the week. They all got burnt.

“We are calling on the government to come and assist us because things are so rough now. Maybe, the government can help us financially and otherwise. We will appreciate it.’

Another victim, a widow and mother of four, Mrs Nkiru Olisemeka, who trades in foodstuffs, wondered how she would cater for her children who are in the university.

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“I trade on foodstuffs, rice, beans, oil, tomatoes, anything foodstuffs, she said in an emotion-laden voice, even as she corroborated the first speaker that she was at home when several calls trickled in.”

She added, “So, I called my first daughter to ask what was happening. She said nothing that I should calm down. I live along Stadium Road, so getting to the market, the fire was much.

“Even before my children got there, they said the fire was much and that all the goods had burned into ashes. I’m a widow with four children in the university. Next month will be two years since I lost my husband.

“This is what I use to survive and sponsor them. All my goods, everything, was burnt down,” she tearfully said.

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She put the value of what she lost at about N50m, including cash.

“I was supposed to pay somebody N500, 000 but the person did not meet up before I closed and left. So, I said when I came today (Wednesday), I would give the man the N500,000. Now, what do I do,” she asked rhetorically.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Grange-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying an investigation was ongoing.

“An investigation is ongoing to ascertain what happened. I can tell you that the Divisional Police Officer and his men were on the ground yesterday and the fire was put out.”

Troops of the Mobile Strike Team under Operation Fasan Yamma have killed a notorious terrorist kingpin known as Auta and at least 14 of his associates during a decisive offensive in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The operation, which took place on 10 June 2025 around Ƙunchin Kalgo town, led to the death of Auta, alongside his close aides Abdul Jamilu and Salisu.

A statement released on Thursday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye said Auta and his fighters had long been responsible for a string of violent attacks and terror activities in the region.

He described their elimination as a “critical disruption of terrorist networks.”

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Kangye said, “Troops of the Mobile Strike Team under Operation FASAN YAMMA successfully killed a group of terrorists during a decisive offensive operation around Ƙunchin Kalgo town in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State on 10 June 2025.

“Among those killed was a notorious terrorist known as AUTA, alongside his associates Abdul Jamilu and Salisu. These terrorists were linked to multiple acts of violence and terrorism within the general area. The operation marks a significant blow to criminal elements, destabilising peace and security in the area.

“Preliminary intelligence indicates that two additional terrorist kingpins, including one identified as Babayé, were eliminated during the operation. ”

In a related incident, Kangye said troops neutralised Sale Ado Madele, also known as Sarki, the eldest son of the notorious bandit leader Ado Alieru.

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He said Sarki’s death is expected to significantly weaken the Alieru criminal faction, which has been behind multiple abductions and killings in Zamfara and neighbouring states.

“In a separate incident, Sale Ado Madele (alias Sarki), the eldest son of known bandit leader Ado Alieru, was also reportedly killed, ” he added.

Furthermore, in a separate engagement, troops tracked and killed ten armed terrorists near a filling station in Danjibga.

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Kangye said intelligence sources say the group was allegedly mobilised by another bandit commander, Dogo Sule, for a planned attack.

“The troops also killed an additional 10 terrorists who congregated near a filling station in Danjibga. The terrorists were believed to be part of a syndicate brought together by Dogo Sule for a planned attack.

“The Nigerian Armed Forces remain committed to safeguarding lives and restoring lasting peace across Zamfara State and the wider North-West region. This operation underscores our resolve to dismantle terrorist networks and bring perpetrators of violence to justice, “he said.
PUNCH

Security operatives on Thursday morning barricaded the main gate of the National Assembly complex in Abuja to prevent protesters from accessing the venue.

The protest, organised by the Take It Back Movement and several civil society groups, is part of nationwide demonstrations marking June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

Organisers had said the protest is aimed at spotlighting what they describe as “two years of misrule, hardship, and insecurity” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

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The organisers had moved the protest to the national assembly, where President Bola Tinubu is expected to address a joint session of the National Assembly as part of the Democracy Day celebrations.

Speaking on the eve of the protest, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the decision to converge at the National Assembly did not change the focus of the protest.

“That we earlier said the protest would hold at Eagle Square doesn’t foreclose the fact that Nigerians cannot organise themselves at the National Assembly to protest the two years of misrule under Tinubu.

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“The unprecedented hardship and insecurity we have experienced under his government are alarming. So Nigerians will be turning out nationwide to protest against this, and the National Assembly is one of those spaces Nigerians can exercise their constitutional rights. We are encouraging Nigerians to move there in their numbers tomorrow,”he said.

Getting to the venue, our correspondent observed a heavy presence of security personnel, including operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and armed police officers, stationed at the National Assembly gate.

The entrance was also reinforced with iron barricades as well as a long truck, preventing access to the premises.

As at the time of filing this report, the atmosphere remained tense.