It was indeed a black Wednesday in Igbudu market, the biggest in the Warri axis of Delta State as fire destroyed goods worth millions of naira at the provisions section popularly called Nupe.
It took concerted efforts of locals and fire service men to contain the spread of the fire to bottom part of the building, neighbouring shops, and warehouses.
For several hours, traders at Igbudu market, residents of adjourning streets, and men of fire service from Nigerian Navy and NNPC Gas Infrastructure battled to put out the fire which also engulfed a stretch serving as packing warehouses to traders of the market.
Men of the Nigerian Army and Police provided security to prevent looting of shops and goods being salvaged from the ravaging inferno, particularly by affected traders.
While top of the one-story building was used for packing shops, the town was occupied by other shop owners and residents.
According to some eyewitnesses, they noticed smoke on the roof of the building and raised the alarm.
They noted that the combustion from particles in the warehouses ignited the intensity of the fire as it overwhelmed the traders and residents who were trying to put out the fire.
Some persons who came to the rescue called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to support the owners of the warehouses to enable them to bounce back to business soonest.
At the scene of the incident on Thursday morning some of the affected traders looked with utter dispel the wreckage of their goods from which they earn their daily living.