Posted by VINCENT ADEKOYE, Benin on
Barely two weeks after the Edo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Kingsley Osadolor alleged plans by some Abuja based politicians to destabilize the state; the multi-million naira Uselu Market in Benin was early yesterday morning set ablaze by some unknown arsonists.
Barely two weeks after the Edo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Kingsley Osadolor alleged plans by some Abuja based politicians to destabilize the state; the multi-million naira Uselu Market in Benin was early yesterday morning set ablaze by some unknown arsonists.
Edo State Deputy governor, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe who cut short his official trip to Lagos because of the incident, could not control his emotion as he wept bitterly over the level of destruction at the market and vowed to unmask those behind the incident.
The fire incident which started at about 1.00am continued unabated till 9.25am yesterday following the destruction of the operational vehicles of the Edo State Fire Service by some unknown youths in the area.
Source at the nearby residential house told newsmen that the state Fire Service had responded early enough to the distressed call and were on the way to the market when some youths forcefully hijacked the vehicles and vandalized them few meters to the market.
It would be recalled that the Edo Information and Orientation Commissioner had alleged two weeks ago that the state government was in possession of security information that indicated that some Abuja based politicians had perfected plans to cause breakdown of law and order in the state.
Mr. Osadolor specifically disclosed that part of the plans was to sponsor the destruction of the State House of Assembly Complex, Government House and some public places so that there could be negative public reaction.
He made the allegation while briefing newsmen on the invasion of the Administrative headquarters of the Igueben local government council by some armed youths who also installed the suspended Council Chairman, Mr. Fred Ijiekhuamen.
Uselu Market was established about three decades ago and it is one of the biggest and well populated markets in the Edo State capital.
Investigation revealed that the market was without power supply when the incident occurred thereby ruling out power fluctuation.
Report said the fire started from the main section of the market where the textile stores were located before it spread to other parts of the market.
Items consumed by the inferno included expensive textile materials, footwears, consumable food items and even livestocks like goats, cows, chickens and many others.
Speaking, the Deputy Governor, who vowed to get to the root of the fire incident by setting up panel that will investigate the cause of the inferno lamented the incessant destruction of government property in the state saying that such development was not a welcome development.
While pledging that the state government would assist those whose goods were destroyed by the fire outbreak, the deputy governor ordered the Chairman of Egor Local Government where the market is located, Mr. Osadolor Eribo, to compile names of all those affected by the incident so that government could extend helping hands to them.
Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muktar Abass confirmed that the Command received report of the fire outbreak adding that he had already detailed his men to investigate the cause.
Mr. Osadolor insisted that the fire incident was the handiwork of some politicians who were bent on heating the polity of Edo State.
Over 600 market women whose fortunes were destroyed through the fire incident were seen rolling and weeping on the ground at the market yesterday.
The latest development bought to five the number of markets so far destroyed by mysterious fire in Benin City since the past One year. The last of such was the ultra modern Oba Market which was destroyed early this year.