Traders at a makeshift market in Bayelsa State are yet to come to terms with the damages done to their lives by a fire, which razed the market and their goods, reports SHOLA O’NEIL
There was weeping and wailing as a midday fire wreak havoc in Kaiama community in Bayelsa State on Monday. Properties, goods and wares worth several millions of naira were destroyed by the fire, which broke out at a make shift market located along the Kaiama-Patana stretch of the East-West Highway.
Rows of shops where petroleum products, mostly diesel and engine oil, motorcycle parts and other items are sold were razed by the inferno, which destroyed over 10 makeshift stalls and caravans.
Eyewitnesses’ account of the fire indicated that it was sparked off by a petty trader, who lit fire at the back of the shop close to the River Niger Bridge in the town.
“The woman, who owns a restaurant made the fire behind the shop and after cooking her food, she noticed that the fire was spread into the nearby bush. She and her daughter then tried to put out the fire.”
It was further learnt that when the woman and her daughter thought they had put out the fire, they returned back to the shop and continued their normal services, not knowing that one of the cinders was still smoldering.
“Some minutes later, we just noticed that the fire had started again and this time the way it spread was completely unbelievable. Within the twinkle of an eye, it had gone through over 20meters of the dried bushes at the back of the shop. From there it spread into the shops, starting from the places were drums of diesel are kept.
“What we saw and heard was a very big ball of fire that engulfed everywhere, giving nobody time to move against the fire. The dry bush and condition of the harmattan did not help matters as the fire quickly went through dozens of shops in the makeshift market,” one of the sympathisers at the scene when our reporter visited said.
The incident led to heavy traffic build up around the area forcing travelers going and coming from Port Harcourt to other south-south, west and other parts of the country to spend several hours at the scene because victims and supporters had taken over the road in their desperate bid to stop the fire.
However independent check by Niger Delta Report around the scene revealed that apart of the dryness caused by the harmattan, the fire was aided by petroleum products waste that had gathered around the area over time.
Our findings revealed that several of the shops that were gutted by fire were used to store drums and large quantities of petroleum products, including diesel and engine oil. The waste from the products, it was gathered, had drenched the area over time.
“You know that unlike petrol, diesel does not evaporate or dry off when it pours into the ground; it can stay at the spot for several weeks, months and even years, if it is not properly disposed off. So, it was the collection of these wastes over time that became fuel for the fire that ravaged the shops and stalls,” a security office who visited the scene to assess the extent of the damage, told our reporter on condition of anonymity.
Attempt by our reporter to get the comment of a police officer from the police post in the area was rebuffed. The law enforcement agent, whose name tag read ‘Binileke’, said he was sent to the scene for an on-the-spot valuation and not to make comment.
Our reporter however noted that he concentrated on the owners of the shops where petroleum products were kept and overheard him asking for the details of their owners, who he directed to “report at the police station.”
Meanwhile, as the traders counted their loss they appealed for relief from government. Some of the victims begged Governor Seriake Dickson to come to their aid by giving them financial assistance in order to help them pick up the pieces of their lives that were shattered by the disastrous fire.
“We cannot hold the woman who started this fire to pay for everything; even if we do there is no way she can do anything because she has nothing to offer. It is only the government can do something to wipe away our tears and that is why we are appealing to the governor to come to our aid,” one of the victims said.
