How Illegal Petroleum Products Trigger Market Fire In Delta

Illegal petroleum products reportedly led to the fire incident which occurred at a section of the Otovwodo Market on the axis of the East West Road in Ughelli, Delta state.

It was learnt that high tension cable which fell from an electric pole sparked the fire after it landed on the petroleum products stocked on jerry cans by traders in the market.

It took the spirited efforts of youths to curtail the fire from spreading to adjoining areas of the market and a multiple million naira supermarket within the vicinity.

Godwin Adode, Chairman of the local government council confirmed this on Monday when he went on a fact-finding mission to assess the level of damage caused by the fire.

Adode told newsmen that a spark from the cable led to the fire which was ignited by the petrol.

He said that no live was lost in the fire incident which he said was immediately curtailed.

The council boss however banned trading in the area and directed that the area being condone off.

“The spark on the high tension wire fell on the place where some of our women sell kerosene, diesel and fuel and that caused an explosion leading to a huge ball of fire that consumed part of the market and BEDC wires.

“I had called a meeting to the palace of the Ovie of Ughelli on this matter and warned that nobody should sell under the high tension because of the danger involved since life has no duplicate. But some interest groups came to plead and mount pressure on me and I refused.

So what I am saying now is that nobody should sell under the high tension wire.” Adode said.

Meanwhile, Ughelli and its environs have been thrown into darkness following the fire incident which affected the 33 KVA NIPP federal government projects which feed the area.

Bethel Ebiuwhe, Business Manager of BEDC in Ughelli, and Precious Dibie, Operations/Maintenance Superintendent of BEDC confirmed this on Monday morning.

They said that there would blackout in the whole of Ughelli until materials are provided by the authority of BEDC to repair the damage.  

Dibie said the 33 KVA NIPP federal government projects which act as a relief to the Otovwodo/Patani feeder line was affected.  Asked how long that would take he simply said “I don’t know”.

Commenting, Ebiuwhe said that BEDC had intimated the authority over the illegal trade under the high tension wire and the possible danger inherent but no action was taken.

Picture in this story was used for illustration, not Ughelli market fire picture