By Blessing Dickson
Tragedy struck as the entire tyre section of the Bedwell Market in Calabar metropolis was yesterday Saturday 3 January was engulfed with fire destroying goods worth millions of naira.
Ten shops including a ware house loaded with different types and sizes of car tyres were affected by the fire outbreak and about five persons were injured while trying to put off the fire.
An eye witness recounted that the fire started around 9.am and had destroyed some shops at a particular axis of the bedwell market while few of the traders were able to recover their goods from the raging fire.
The traders had mourned bitterly over their goods that perished alongside with the fire. They complained that the fire service men had arrived three hours later with a complaint on the inability to carry out their duties due to the unavailability of a functional vehicle.
A trader named Sony said “I was just lucky to remove my tyres before the fire got to my shop. And I can tell you that people have lost millions of naira because most of us just ordered goods for the Christmas and the New Year.”
A victim by name, Mr. Nkem Onyedilim, said “I am totally gone. I have lost all my life investment to the inferno. Why should such happen to us at this crucial period when some of us bought the tyres on credit?
“This is the beginning of a new life. I appeal to emergency authorities to come to our aid, because I have lost close to N5m to the fire. Besides, my brother also is affected and we don’t know what to do right now.”
