Bamenda City Mayor Blasts Those Blaming Nkwen Market Fire Incident On Amba Fighters

The mayor of the Bamenda City Council, Paul Achombong has lashed out at those he says are going around saying that the fire outbreak at the Nkwen Market in Bamenda, North West Region was the handiwork of separatist fighters.

Contrary to news circulating that Ambazonia fighters were responsible, Mayor Achombong says the incident was a result of an electrical fault.

He was speaking during a visit to the market Wednesday, December 1, 2021.

“The cause of the fire was an electrical failure. We are comfortable with that truth that was said without any duress. I know opportunists will want to take credit for things they did not do. We are here to decry and deplore anyone who will want to spread information that it was done by this or that person. No!” he insisted.

On what will happen to the victims of the fire incident, the mayor said: “I have instructed the Market Master to count the number of shops that were burnt, identify what activities that were going on there, make a basic evaluation of the damage done per shop after which we will be able to decide on how to comfort the victims.”

The victims have however accused the Army Rescue Unit of not taking the situation seriously.

“They came and used about thirty minutes to set up their machines as the fire consumed our goods. A few minutes after trying to control the situation, the water got finished. How could they have come without enough water? I can’t understand. Enough water in their machines would have reduced the level of damage,” one of the victims who opted for anonymity said.

Bamenda for some time now has suffered many fire incidents, especially on markets. The Bamenda Food Market, Bamenda I, and the Mile 4 Motor Park Markets have also had a negative side of the fire outbreaks.