Bamenda, 24 February, 2024 / 9:34 pm (ACI Africa).
Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea of Bamenda Archdiocese in Cameroon has expressed his solidarity with persons affected by the fire disaster that razed hundreds of shops at the central market in his Metropolitan See.
On February 22, over 300 shops were razed to ashes after a fire broke out at the Bamenda Main Market in the North West region of Cameroon, the State media, Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), reported. The source of the fire, which broke out at 5 p.m. is yet to be established.
In a statement issued Friday, February 24, Archbishop Nkea says, “It is with deep consternation that I learnt of the horrendous fire disaster that ravaged close to 300 shops at the Bamenda Central Market on the evening of Thursday 22nd February, 2024.”
He adds, “This has left many families and the entire population of Bamenda and beyond in pain and desperation.”
“At this moment I assure you of my closeness and prayers,” the Cameroonian Catholic Archbishop says, and adds, “This unfortunate situation brings us to the reality of Job; on the day when Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking in their elder brother's house, a message came to job, 'Your oxen', he said, 'were at the plough with the donkeys grazing at the side, when the Sabaeans swept down on them and carried them off, and put the servants to the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.'”