EARLY MORNING FIRE GUTS OVER 15 SHOPS IN ANAMBRA

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

Goods and equipment worth millions of naira have been destroyed by fire in Isuanuocha in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The fire, incident which the source is not yet known, burnt down over fifteen shops and pulled down the walls.

According to reports, the fire, which started in the early hours of Wednesday, was put out with the assistance of neighbours in the area after several calls said to have been put across to the Anambra State Fire Service phone lines yielded no result.

It was gathered that the shop owners had gone home and were fast asleep when a security man on duty noticed the brazen fire from one of the shops and started alerting the people.

When Radio Nigeria arrived at the scene, sympathizers were seen in groups consoling the victims, who looked helpless and hopeless in the situation they described as unbearable.

One of the victims, Mrs. Florence Ekemezie, who sells drinks and food, cried that she lost 4 deep freezers, 5 standing fans, 2 refrigerators, a generator, cartons of drinks, coolers, plates and other valuables in the four shops she was occupied.

A tailor, Mr. Chukwuebuka Okeke, who said she had begun fending for himself five years ago, lost five industrial machines, seven tailoring machines, and other sewing equipment worth millions of naira.

The owner of the structure that was gutted by fire, Chief Cletus Okafor, while thanking God that no life was lost during the incident that lasted all night long, appealed to both government and good spirited individuals to come to their aid, as the proceeds from the shop rent was all he depends on to feed his family having retired from active service long time ago.

Other victims while counting their loses, aslo appealed to both the Federal and state governments as well as wealthy individuals to come to their aid and save them from committing suicide as they might not cope with the present economic hardship in the country.

In an Interview, the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Chief Paul Odenigbo, encouraged the victims not to lose hope as a team would be sent to take inventory and asses the level of damage done, with a view to making a case on their behalf.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU