By Douglas Mojaye
Fire has reportedly gutted the roadside market at Otovwodo Junction in Ughelli, Delta State.
The fire, according to sources, destroyed the Benin Electricity Distribution Company’s facility in the area and other makeshift market stands in the area.
It was gathered that a BEDC high tension power line which fell in the area caused fire outbreak on Sunday.
The raging fire was said to have been ignited at about 6:30pm on Sunday by a spark from the BEDC power electricity cable which fell on a kerosene container at the market.
NIGER DELTA TODAY learnt that the inferno was helped by the spill of adulterated kerosene some women were selling at the market under the high tension line.
Speaking at the scene of the fire, the Ughelli Branch Manager of BEDC, Mr Bethel said “one of the high tension wires got bridged and sparked off light fell on the drums the women were using to sell fuel and kerosene.
“That ignited the fire, if you look at the drainage now you will see fuel inside, fire and smoke is still coming out because of the volume of fuel inside the drainage.”
When asked by our correspondent if he was not aware of the illicit sales of kerosene and market under the power line, he said he had written several times to the relevant authorities about it and nothing was done.
“We have been aware of the illegal activities, we have written to the relevant authorities and nothing has been done. This market area is our NIPP project line and 11kva line. They are not supposed to trade under dangerous area.
“We are carrying out the level of damage; we have to seal this area and will write a report to our head office”, the Ughelli BEDC’s Manager said
A trader at the Otovwodo market simply identified as Doris told our correspondent that, “Am selling Garri in this market, the kerosene the women are selling is the one they illegally got from bunkering sites and when the wire spark, it fell on the kerosene containers and it ignite the fire.
Madam Doris said the council authorities in Ughelli North and the palace were aware of what was happening in the market, alleging that the council’s task force “collect ticket and money from them on daily bases.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of Ughelli North LGA, Mr Godwin Adode, who also visited the market, told our reporter that he was not aware of the kerosene business in the market and nobody has informed him about it.
According to Adode, “Yesterday (Sunday) I was called that there was fire out break at Otovwodo market, and that a power line got fire and our market women selling kerosene and fake fuel ignite the fire.
“I have warned them before now about the market and they went to the palace and some people prevail on us to allow them trade under the power line.
“When we set up taskforce some people read political under turn to it. But now we will meet with the king and chiefs in the Ughelli Kingdom to make sure the market no longer operate here.”
