Fire broke out yesterday in the bustling area of Akere Lane, Alli Square in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, causing widespread destruction of goods worth millions of naira.

More than 10 stores were affected by the inferno, including electronic shops, an interior decoration shop, a cyber café, a photo studio, a generator sales and repair shop, and building materials stores, among others.

The items destroyed in the fire were extensive, ranging from plasma television sets, home theatres, and air conditioners to photo cameras, laptop and desktop computers, plumbing materials, generator sets, toilet seats, building materials, and many more.

What added to the unfortunate circumstances is the fact that one of the destroyed shops was a newly commissioned photo studio with state-of-the-art equipment, only operational for less than a week before the incident.

Many observers at the scene suspect foul play, suggesting possible arson since the area was experiencing a blackout and heavy rainfall at the time of the incident.

The owner of the cybercafé, known as Tomich Link Ltd, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed despair as he could only salvage a few items before the fire engulfed his office.

This incident has left everyone perplexed as the circumstances surrounding the fire, including the blackout and continuous rainfall, make it seem highly unusual.

One of the customers, Barr. Mike Disi, described the incident as a colossal loss and called for a thorough investigation into the fire’s cause.