FIRE RAZES RUMUOMASI MORNING MARKET IN RIVERS, GOODS WORTH MILLIONS DESTROYED
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
A devastating fire swept through the popular Rumuomasi Morning Market in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Tuesday night, destroying goods and properties worth millions of naira.
The inferno, which reportedly started between 7:30pm and 8pm shortly after electricity was restored to the area, left traders in shock and despair as they watched their livelihoods go up in flames. Eyewitnesses and victims said the fire spread rapidly, engulfing multiple shops before emergency responders could contain it.
Federal and Rivers State firefighters, along with private emergency teams from nearby oil firms, battled the blaze for hours.
However, access to the heart of the inferno proved difficult, delaying containment efforts. Police officers also maintained a strong presence at the scene to prevent looting.
Among the worst hit was Mr. Anthony Chikere, a former chairman of the market, who said he lost goods worth over N180 million. According to him, the fire started less than an hour after traders had closed for the day. His shop, stocked with bales of lace, damask, senator materials, satin, and sewing equipment, was reduced to ashes.
“I had just taken delivery of new materials we hadn’t even opened. Everything is gone,” he lamented. Chikere appealed to the state government for financial assistance, describing the situation as dire.
Another victim, Nkiru Olisemeka, a widow and mother of four university students, broke down in tears as she recounted her loss. She said she dealt in foodstuffs — rice, beans, oil, tomatoes — and lost not only her goods but also N500,000 in cash meant for a supplier. “This was my only means of survival since I lost my husband almost two years ago. I don’t know where to start,” she said.
The incident has sparked calls for urgent government intervention and better safety measures in markets across the state. When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident and said an investigation was ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire.
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