'Strange' Fire Razes 100 Shops In Enugu

An early morning fire on Wednesday razed more than 100 shops and property estimated at over N300 million at the Enugu Timber Market in Enugu South Local Government Area of the state. Our correspondent reports that wood working machines, generators, doors and timbers were among the items that were destroyed. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but some traders, who spoke to Daily Trust, claimed that the fire was caused by what they described as "occultic practices by some of their colleagues in

the market."

"Each time a fire incident occurs, some people will become rich overnight. They use this fire, which occurs every year to make more money," one of the traders who did not want his name in print said. A witness said the quick intervention of men of the Enugu State Fire Service prevented the fire from gutting the entire market. He said all the fire fighting vehicles in Enugu were deployed to contain the ravaging fire, which had earlier resisted the efforts 

of the only fire fighting vehicle stationed at the market by the

government.

Another trader, Mr. Onyebuchi Obiorah said the fire destroyed

property worth over N300 million.

"I was here while the fire was ravaging, and I must commend the fire fighting men of the Enugu State Fire Service for their prompt intervention", he

said.