A section of the popular Oba Market in the heart of Benin City, Edo State, was gutted by fire on Wednesday night, destroying goods worth millions of naira.

This is the latest in a series of fires to hit the market, which was previously destroyed during the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki and was undergoing reconstruction under the current government of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

According to eyewitnesses, shop owners who rushed to the scene could only watch helplessly as firefighters and volunteers battled to contain the raging inferno. The cause of the fire remains unknown as of the time of filing this report.

In response to the incident, the Chairman of Oredo Local Government Area, Hon. Gabriel Iduseri, conducted an on-the-spot assessment in the early hours of Thursday.

Iduseri expressed sympathy for the affected traders and pledged the council’s support. “This is a tragic moment for our people, especially for hardworking traders who depend on this market for their daily bread. We will not leave them to face this alone,” he stated.