Affected traders at the popular Ogbe-Ijoh Warri market in Delta State whose goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in a fire incident that began on the night of Tuesday, December 5, 2023, have lamented neglect by the government, days after the ever busy local market was burnt down, an incident the traders alleged was an act of sabotage.

This is coming as the chairman of Opuede Federated Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state, Barr. Mackson Ode, in company of a former chairman of Opuedebubor community, Mr. Harrison Kembor, and a youth leader, Mr. Kingsley Peremobowei, paid an inspection visit to the market on Friday, December 8, 2023.

Recall that the popular Ogbe-Ijoh Warri market, in the late hours of Tuesday, was reported to be on fire, the source of which was not ascertained while various unverified claims pointed to an ignition from electrical fault while others, to the act of criminals with intent to loot.

Speaking to PENGlobal Community, Chief Madam Dolphin Bebenimibo, a popular businesswoman who offers local transport services at a portion of the market she reclaimed from the river through sand filling, lamented that 20 of her shops on rent to traders whose goods that are worth millions of naira were destroyed by the fire as nothing could be savaged.

Chief Bebenimibo, who attributed the fire incident to the lack of security in the market, further hinted that since the incident occurred, no government officials is yet to come to their rescue just as she appealed to those in authority to do the needful by coming to the aid of traders since they rely on their business for the upkeep of their families.

"We need help, Delta State governor Sheriff should help us. Where do we get money to rebuild our shops especially in this economic hard times. Where do we get money to restart our trade? Many of us are already in debt. We are appealing for help," she groaned.

Also speaking in same vein, Mary Arukarawei, the general chairlady of maritime traders that are dealing on seafoods in the market, claimed that more than 20 shops belonging to union members were burnt down, while laying credence to the lack of security as the major cause of the fire created by miscreants.

Another trader, Elizabeth Okoro, who deals on food items said, "Around 12am when I hear the news, before I get here the fire don enter everywhere, na charcoal I meet," she said in Pidgin English. "We need security for the market. Midnight you enter this market you nor go see any security, all those thief na you go see for the market, those wey dey break stores. So make government help us," she added.

Another trader, Dimien Tortor, who deals on wholesale on water and food items was seen in the premises with young boys she had engaged to wash some of the savaged water crates. In the course of speaking on the tragedy, she revealed she had just restocked her shop with N1.5million naira worth of goods the previous day before the fire incident.

"We nor really know wetin happen. That night I just come from market and restock my store for the December market. For the night them come call us say the market dey burn. Some say na NEPA, but me nor believe say na NEPA because nor be only dis market dey use NEPA light. Another market dey wey still dey use light. But why e be like say na dis market go dey burn everytime? This is making it three times dis market dey burn. The security nor dey tight so we need security too," she added.

Speaking on the development, Barr. Ode who hinted that as a chairman of a community he felt concerned especially as indigenes of Opuede are also doing business in the market, described the tragic fire incident and the failure of the government and other stakeholders to respond appropriately as "very disheartening and very unfortunate".

On future prevention, he said, "Such a place should have certain preventive measures in case of disasters such as this. One of those preventive measures should've been a very good road network. It was said that in the midst of the fire there was no road even if they have had access to firefighting equipment as they wouldn't have been able to access the shops. Secondly, I think that there should be adequate security arrangements. If we have security personnel within the premises at least the damage would've been averted, if not completely stopped."

The Opuede chairman further made an appeal to "concerned government parastatals, agencies and bodies to ensure that there is security personnel on ground here and then find a way to create the access road in case of incident like this, so the people can easily get help.

"Finally I would want to plead with government agencies, well meaning individuals and philanthropists to come to the aid of the victims. So many of these people are bread winners of their various families. So many of them is the reason why their families exist," he added.

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