For the second time this year, the main market in Bamenda, in the North West region, was engulfed in flames. A fire broke out in the shopping centre at around 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 22. It has devastated a number of shops in the area. According to reports, around forty shops were burn.
A fire incident wreaked havoc at the Bamenda main market this Thursday afternoon, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Numerous shops have been reduced to ashes as the flames engulfed the area. “We were at the main market entrance, where the fire ignited around 5 pm as traders were concluding their activities for the day,” said a source. Despite the efforts of firefighters to contain the inferno, the intensity of the blaze proved challenging to control. An estimated 40 shops have been affected. An estimated 40 shops have been affected.
“The cause of the fire incident remains unknown. However, based on our initial observations, it is evident that tens of millions of French CFA have already been lost, and there are indications that many more shops may succumb to the flames,” MMI’s reporter noted. There are suspicions that they were caused by an electrical issue or by separatists fighters.
This incident marks the second significant fire in Bamenda since the beginning of the year, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and preventative measures within the community.
Young man killed as fire engulfs Bamenda Main Market
Local media says one man died as the fire engulfed the shops he tried to enter. The young man was said to have been in the process of stealing items from the shops after the flames had been extinguished. He was taken by surprise by a crowd of onlookers and was beaten to death on the spot. The incident sheds light on the grim reality of vigilante justice prevailing in the country. A Bamenda resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, remarked, “This portrays the sad reality of jungle justice in the country. It is wrong for individuals, particularly youth, to seek justice without taking the necessary precautions. There remains uncertainty as to whether the young man was indeed a thief.” Tragically, the identity of the deceased young man remains unknown, and he succumbed to the assault on the spot.