Fire disaster: Imo lawmaker visits Igbo traders in Lagos

Austin Okoro DDM NEWS

The current fire outbreak at Owode market Ikorodu, Lagos state has attracted the attention of the Honourable member representing Njaba State Constituency in Imo state House of Assembly, Hon Ozioma Worship Bennett -Ebonine who paid them a condolence visit.

The fire disaster that destroyed property worth millions of naira has rendered many Igbo Traders jobless and helpless.

The lawmaker out of his magnanity moved to Lagos to support the Imo traders who are involved in the disaster especially those from Njaba LGA,Imo state.

According to Citizen Samuelson Ikenna Iwuoha in a statement on Sunday 15th March 2025, the lawmaker , Hon Bennett -Ebonine has rendered immediate assistance to about 3 traders out of 15 Njaba citizens who could not stand on their own, to the tune of #5.5 million.

He states: “In a heartwarming display of solidarity and communal spirit of love and concern, the Member Representing Njaba State Constituency at the Imo State House Of Assembly, Hon Chief Ozioma Worship Benneth Ebonine (Eze Ngwori Njaba), paid a condolence visit to Igbo victims of the recent fire disaster at the popular Owode Market, Ikorodu, Lago State.

The visit which took place last week was a testament of Hon Chief Ozioma Worship Benneth Ebonine’s commitment to upholding the values of compassion, empathy and communal spirit of love and concern.

Addressing the victims, Hon Worship Ebonine expressed his sincerest condolences to the Igbo victims, out of which 15 were his Constituents and whose shops were burnt beyond redemption.

“I am here to stand in solidarity with you, to share in your grief and to offer words of advice.

This is not the end of the world. It is a set back, but I assure you, you will bounce back again.

I was in Owerri carrying out my legislative responsibilities for which I was elected, when the unfortunate news reached me that 15 Njaba traders were affected in the Owode market fire disaster.

I was so pained and worried that I had to cancel all my engagements, enter the next available flight to lagos, to personally condole with you, and to visit the scene of the incident, and see the level of damage caused by the fire outbreak.

I have come, and have seen that you lost shops, goods and properties worth hundreds of millions of Naira. Ndooo Nu, Umunnem Na Umunnam. I will reach out to our wealthy brothers and sisters for assistance, so that you can start life again”, Eze Ngwori stated.

It should be noted that when Hon Ozioma Worship Ebonine asked questions about those who could not stand on their own again in trading as the result of the fire outbreak, he was given three names out of the 15 Njaba traders.

Thereafter, in his capacity, he instantly raised the sum of N5.5 million Naira for them, through the interaction with some Njaba people in lagos.

Eze Ngwori Njaba promised to do proper fund raising for the Njaba victims, so that they would be able to stand properly.

Also, Eze Ngwori Njaba addressed the Yoruba community that owns the Owode Market and urged them to give Igbo traders the breathing space and conducive environment to continue in their trading enterpris”,Iwuoha stated.

DDM News gathered that Igbo Traders have suffered hell in the hands of their Yoruba counterparts in Lagos state in the areas of intimidation, oppression, fire disasters to outright killings .

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