Goods worth millions of naira were on Tuesday night consumed by fire at the Katsina Ala Market in Benue State.
Eyewitnesses said the inferno started around 8.30pm.
A trader, who identified herself as Madam Nancy, said the Lagos and Igbo lines were mostly affected.
“The fire started around 8.30pm on Tuesday and destroyed foodstuffs and clothes. We lost goods worth hundreds of millions of naira to the fire,” she added.
Nancy lamented that the absence of firefighters worsened the situation as the inferno quickly spread to other parts of the market.
The Chairman of Katsina Ala Local Government Area, Alfred Atera, who claimed to have visited the market, called on the state government to come to the aid of the traders.
“We are crying to the government to intervene because people’s life savings are gone. Most people’s means of livelihood were trapped there; some in the hospital also need help. So, we appeal to the government to intervene to alleviate the suffering of the people,” Atera added.
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