Fire Disaster At Cross River Market Kills One, Destroys Over 600 Shops, 32 Motorcycles (Photos)

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that both the fire incident at Ikom Main Market in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State and the fuel tanker fire on the same day resulted in one fatality, the destruction of over 640 shops, and 39 motorcycles.

NEMA, who made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday said that the fire outbreak affected over five lines in the market including Togo, Gombe, Lagos, Italian, and Onitsha lines, containing 120 shops in each line, which amounts to a total of about 620 shops in all.

According to NEMA, goods worth millions of naira and cash was also burnt, while the livelihoods of the affected market traders were seriously impacted, adding that the market leader, Pastor Moris Ewonkom and his executives appealed for assistance from the federal government.

The agency also said that a petroleum tanker fire that occurred along Calabar road in Ikom on the same April 9, at about 10pm, took a life, damaged 32 motorcycles and burnt over 29 shops along the roadside.

NEMA stated that “Sequel to the distress call received from Cross River SEMA of a fire disaster in Ikom main market in Ikom local Government in Cross River State, a joint assessment team made up of SEMA, DSS, Red cross, Representatives from Ikom LGA and market leaders, led by  Head of operations, NEMA Uyo, carried out an on-the-spot assessment to ascertain the extent of damage caused by fire.

“The team was taken round the five lines that were affected in the market, and it was observed that the severity of the fire was beyond the coping capacity of the market traders.

“The incident destroyed/affected shops, goods worth millions of naira and cash was also burnt.

“The fire disaster affected over five lines (Togo, Gombe, Lagos, Italian, and Onitsha lines), containing 120 shops in each line, which amounts to a total of about 620 shops in all.

“Generally, the livelihoods of the affected market traders were seriously impacted.

“The team also assessed the burnt petroleum tanker along Calabar road in Ikom which occurred on the 9th of April, 2024 at about 10pm at night, the incident took a life, damaged 32 motorcycles, and burnt over 29 shops along the roadside.

“The market leader, Pastor Moris Ewonkom and his executives appealed for assistance from the federal government.”