By; ONYEKACHUKWU MELUWA, Warri
Findings by AUTHENTIC News Daily revealed illegal bunkers were reasons the popular Ogbe-Ijoh market in Warri, Delta State. was razed down by fire on Thursday.
It was learnt that the market went into flames when a female illegal bunker lit a match in a bid to test if the products she bought was adulterated.
An eyewitness who craved anonymity said the female illegal bunker was initially warned against lighting the matches but she arrogantly did not heed the warnings.
The Warri South Local Government Council Chairman, Dr. Michael Tidi confirmed the market was razed down as a result of illegal bunkering of petrol, diesel and other products by traders in the market.
The Council boss made the assertin in a chat with newsmen when he visited the market.
Dr. Tidi said, “As you can see, the thickness of the fire, that should tell you that probably, they must be selling some substances here which I believe should cooked diesel and off course, oil, petroleum.
“Although, they are selling kerosene but with the intensity of the fire, I want to believe it is fuel they are selling here.”
Dr. Tidi ordered the Interim Market Master simply identified as Godwin to make sure fire incidences do not reoccur again.
Dr. Tidi pointed out the market was recently handed over to the Warri South Local Government Council by the Governor, His Exelency Sen, Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa’s led Government of Delta State.
According to him,”We are yet to constitute the Market Management Committee whose responsibilities will be to maintain and tackle illegal bunkers in the market and report back to the Council.”
Dr. Tidi opined that if illegal Petroleum products are taken away from the market, there will be no fire incidences of any kind.
Dr. Micheal Tidi also said traders should sell only legitimate products stressing that ,”Illegal products is not acceptable in the market. They ought not to bring illegal products here” just as he vowed, his administration will stand firm against illegal bunkering.
The bunkers includes the Itsekiri, Ijoh and Urhobo women.