A devastating fire swept through the Ihiokwu main market in Obarike-Ito, Obi Local Government Area of Benue State, gutting several shops and destroying valuables. The blaze, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, was eventually contained by sympathizers and shop owners, who intervened in the absence of a fire station in the area.
An eyewitness, who preferred to remain anonymous, recounted the chaotic scene, saying, “I raised an alarm when I noticed smoke billowing from one of the shops. Before people could respond, the fire escalated, engulfing several shops.” The cause of the fire remains unknown, with the eyewitness noting that there was no electricity in the market at the time.
Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro has expressed his condolences to the victims of the fire, describing the incident as “very unfortunate” given the current economic hardship. Moro urged the public to rally around the affected individuals and called on government agencies to provide assistance to alleviate their suffering.
