By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha
Controversies have continued to trail Wednesday’s fire that gutted the multi-million timber market in Nnewi, Anambra state.
While traders in the market pointed accusing fingers on the Police for the incident, Police absolved themselves, attributing the inferno to some hoodlums attempting to evade arrest.
Chairman, Nnewi Timber Dealers Association, Chief Nonso Nnetu who could not specifically identify the cause of the fire, however alleged that the inferno started when security operatives entered the erosion site in search of suspected cultists, hard drugs sellers and consumers.
He said, “A combined team of security operatives made up of the police and vigilance groups arrived the market with about eight patrol vehicles and moved straight to an erosion site at the south end of the market in search of cultists, hard drugs sellers and consumers.
“Soon after they entered the valley around 12pm, we saw smoke with flames rising from the area. Though the operatives, while pursuing the suspects tried to put out the fire with the assistance of the traders, but they couldn’t.”
Nnetu regretted that no fewer than 108 shops, processing machines and other goods worth millions of naira were lost to the inferno.
A victim, Chief Dozie Egwuonwu lamented that he had just stocked his goods worth N3 million which were all consumed by the fire.
On his part, Leader of the vigilance groups during the joint operation, Dr Maduka Atuenyi who doubles as the Chairman of Nnewi and Anambra South vigilance groups, absolved the police and other operatives from the incident, insisting that the suspects put on the fire to escape arrest.
Reacting, the Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, dismissed the report that police caused the fire as false and misleading, targeted at creating tension and anarchy in the State.
He said the inferno was occasioned by a clash between a cult group and drugs sellers at 100 foot road Nnewi, resulting to serious pandemonium in the area.
Mohammed added that a total of 35 suspects have been arrested, while an axe, dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa and a motorcycle were recovered from them.
He said, “The attention of the Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to a trending video clip which has gone viral in the social media showing a fire incident at Nnewi Timber market in which the recorder claimed the Nigeria Police Force as responsible.
“The report is not only false but absolutely misleading with the tendency of creating tension and anarchy in the State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, on 17/2/2021 at about 10am a cult group and drugs sellers had a clash at 100 foot road Nnewi, causing serious pandemonium in the area.
“Following the report, police patrol teams in conjunction with local vigilante group quickly mobilised to the scene and arrested four suspects on the spot.
“The remaining hoodlums blocked the road and set the fire on the saw dust in a bid to prevent the police from taking the suspects to the station. The fire overwhelmed the people who tried to put it off which extended to the timber market.
“As a result, a police patrol vehicle attached to Otolo Division and three vehicles belonging to the Vigilante groups were stoned by the rampaging youth.
“Meanwhile, normalcy was restored in the area and a total of 35 suspects were arrested. Exhibits recovered includes Axe, dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa and a motorcycle.
“It is obvious that the recorder share the video online with the aim of triggering anarchy in the State which the Command and other law enforcement agencies are working assiduously to prevent.”
While urging the public to disregard the misleading video report, the Police warned mischief makers to be ready to face the full wrath of the law, insisting that force would not fold its arm while criminality was being perpetrated.
