Bamenda: Dark Christmas for traders in Nkewn as market goes up in flames

By Martial Gnoukapasir

A shed at the Nkwen market fully consumed by fire

'Petrol station di burn' - a female voice screamed  in pidgin-english from a distance and we hurriedly rushed out of the house to find out which of the fueling station had gone up flames, since we have three fueling stations around the area.

A few metres away from my home we spotted fire but as we move closer to the ravaging flames and fumes, it became obvious that it wasn't any of the fueling station on fire but a portion of the make shift structures around the Bamenda Nkwen market that had gone up in flames.

At the scene you will see owners of shops around the market struggling to rescue their belongings before the fire could cross to their shops.

traders removing their goods to safety

Some didn't even have the luxury to open their shops with keys as they break in like thieves in an effort to save their goods.

In the next 15 mins the whole 'back market' area was crowded, while some were filming the flames with their portable phones, others were making attempts to get to the fire fighting brigade to no avail.

From time to time this reporter heard them say in pidgin English -  "that dier number nodi pass sep" while others question " while dis particular place all time nor didon"

loud sounds from shops causes fire to rage on

At the rooftops of some of the shops, we spotted able boys employing local tactics to prevent the fire from crossing over to neighboring shops.

At the background women and children, presumedly family members and close relatives to the shop owners weep aloud.

15 mins gone without fire fighters at the scene and the fire has now touched the main market building.

The night watch showed up at the market gate where he's asked by the population to open the gate. His reluctance is what will then force a cross section of men who were urging him to open the market gate so they could prevent the fire from causing more damage, to bring down the gate with their bare hands.

Population forced open market with bare hands

Few minutes after bringing down the gates, a security van with elements onboard is spotted driving into the scene of the fire incident, forcing many to flee for reasons only them can explain.

Few minutes after security elements had positioned themselves, the sound of a siren was heard and from a glance we spotted the fire fighters arriving.

"Thank God dem kam"  - exclaimed many while breathing a sign of relief.

Close to 20mins of battling the flames that had now touched more than 5 shops of a market block, this reporter heard some people saying "water don finish" while others questioned in chorus "Eyeeeeeeee finish how, them Dem bring na 5 litters water?"

People at rooftop helping to prevent fire from spreading

We only confirmed the rumour when the fire fighting van pull back to go refill their tank.

While fire rages on, traders continue to force open their sheds to save their goods.

Loud sounds and explosions persisted

This reporter will leave the scene after witnessing some shops burnt down to ashes with some still in flames , the security elements still on standby with the fire fighters back on scene and battling the fire.

And that's how 30th November 2021 will go down into the history books of some traders operating at the market in Nkwen as a Black Tuesday. 

Some pictures of the fire incident