Modern Market inferno: Gov. Ortom sets up Commission of Inquiry

By: Pila Daniel

Benue State Governor,Samuel Ortom has announced the setting up of a commission of inquiry to unravel the root cause of the recurrent fire inferno at the Makurdi modern market.

The Governor also announced N50 million support to victims.

He made the disclosure after an on the spot assessment at the market today following the fire inferno that engulfed the facility yesterday.

The Governor said it had become necessary to unravel the root cause of the incessant inferno saying it was one too many.

Governor Ortom said the commission shall look at ways to make the market asseessible during emergencies and proffer ways that will bring permanent solution to the fire incident.

While sympathising with the traders, the Governor announced the donation of Fifty Million Naira to cushion the effect of the damage.

Ter Makurdi, Chief Sule Abenga, also sympathised with victims of the fire incident and thanked the Governor for responding promptly to the cries of the traders.

He equally appealed to the federal government to come to the aide of the traders saying the damage was beyond the traders and Benue State government.

Also speaking, permanent secretaries of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, Mr Matthew Uyina and Mrs Helen Angwe all described the incident as unfortunate and thanked security agents for their efforts in preventing huudlums who were looting from the market.

Chief Emeka Ofiegbu, Secretary, Board of Trustees, said the fire started when they had closed from the market and had to rush back to the market when it had consumed a reasonable number of shops.