Traders at the popular Opolo Furniture Market in Yenagoa are reeling from heavy losses after a early morning fire swept through the commercial hub, destroying goods and business premises worth millions of naira.
The blaze, which broke out in the early hours of Thursday, tore through several shops and makeshift structures before firefighters could bring it under control. By daylight, large sections of the market had been reduced to charred debris.
Eyewitnesses said the fire started at about dawn and spread rapidly across adjoining stalls, triggering panic among residents and traders. Officials of the Bayelsa State Fire Service later arrived at the scene to battle the flames.
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Despite the scale of destruction, a petrol filling station located close to the affected area was not impacted, a development many residents described as a narrow escape from what could have been a far more catastrophic incident.
Shop owners were seen making frantic efforts to salvage whatever they could from the wreckage, while others stood helplessly as their wares were consumed by the fire. Some families living near the market were also reportedly displaced.
As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire had yet to be ascertained. No casualties have been confirmed, but losses running into millions of naira are feared.
Residents have urged the state government to strengthen fire safety measures around major markets, particularly those situated near fuel stations, to prevent a recurrence.
