A group of fierce-looking youths converged near a burning Toyota Matrix car that caught fire as firemen battled to put out the inferno that raged on. A young man who was presumed to be the owner of the car watched helplessly as the car was being razed by fire. At a point, the visibly disturbed man paced up and down in fury like a jackal. Suddenly, he walked into the large crowd of people as it dawned on him that the hope of salvaging the vehicle was dashed.
As soon as the fire got quelled, restless youths milling round the car like hungry vultures, waiting on their prey, pounced on the vehicle’s remains and began to plunder it. Within minutes, they had opened the bonnet, hauled the engine out and disappeared into thin air.
Although nobody could challenge nor stop them from vandalising the burnt vehicle, the crowd of people at the scene began to curse the restless youths as they made away with their loot with a threat to attack whoever stopped them.
About 12 shops, including a pure water factory in one of the affected buildings and a Bible shop, were completely razed by the fire. The two blocks of buildings (a bungalow and a storey building) housing the shops were burnt beyond recognition.
Before the arrival of the fire fighters, those in the area, with some of the affected traders, tried in futility to douse the fire. They called for help as they tried to salvage their wares before the two structures were gutted by fire.
Earlier, some hoodlums tried to escape with some few items stolen from some of the shops. They didn’t succeed initially but the items suddenly disappeared following the confusion that trailed the arrival of some stern-looking security men at the scene. The crowd retreated as the armed security men tried to disperse them.
