Fire breaks out in Onitsha Main Market

A mysterious fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday, at Onitsha main market, in Anambra State.

Main Market, Onitsha, is reputed to be the biggest market in West Africa, and hosts a large population of traders, who are mainly importers of goods, and deal in varied products.

A source, Mr Barth Ifediora, who raised alarm, said the fire broke out early morning of Tuesday, in a section of the market known as White House.

White House is the office of the leaders of the market, an expansive two-storey building and hosts several offices, halls for meetings in the first and second floor, while the ground floor hosts shops.

A source said: “The area mostly affected by the fire is the block of shops under the white house, where expensive lace materials are sold.”

Martin Agbili, the fire service boss in Anambra State, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.

Traders have, however, mobilized to the market to fight the fire.