20th October, 2010
The police yesterday, arrested three suspects over Monday evening’s fire at Old Motor Spare Parts Market, Obosi, Anambra, popularly called Ngbuka Market.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited the market, observed that the fire burnt 14 shops at the centre of the market and destroyed goods worth more than N10 million before it was put out by the public.
Mr. Efe Ekpoemaye, the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of Awada Police Station, told NAN that the division had transferred the case and suspects to the State Police  headquarters in Awka.
An eyewitness said the fire was ignited by some hoodlums around 8p.m. on Monday.
“Some people living around the neighbourhood of the market intervened and the fire was extinguished.
“While this was on-going, the hoodlums stormed the apartment of the leader of the rescue team and set it ablaze but as God would have it, the man’s apartment was rescued also,’’ the witness said.
The witness credited one of the hoodlums as saying that they were paid to carry out the act, when he was caught.
Chief Sylvester Nwobu-Alor, Special Adviser to Gov. Peter Obi on Parks and Markets, described the incident as unfortunate but commended those who helped in putting out the fire.
“The police are currently investigating the matter and we do hope that the incident has no link to the market factional clash last week that resulted in the closure of the market.
“As we speak, I am having a meeting with selected leaders of the market to bring justice and peace to the crisis embattled market as well as bring to book those behind all these troubles,’’ Nwobu-Alor said.
