Goods , wares 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 remains unknown to the victims, burnt down over fifteen shops and pulled down the walls.
Our correspondent who visited two scenes reports that the incident which started at about twelve o’clock Wednesday morning took the assistance of neighbours in the area before it was put out alter several calls to the Anambra State Fire Service phone lines yielded no result.
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.
Immediately the incident was noticed, few Individuals who had phone numbers of the Anambra state fire service started calling them, but according to Mr Okafor Somadina and Mrs Rita Ezenwanne, there was no response till the time of filling this report.
When journalists arrived 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 , lost four deep freezers, five standing fans, two refrigerators, a generator ,cartons of drinks , coolers, plates and other valuables in the four shops she was occupying .
Mr Chukwuebuka Okeke, a cloth maker who began fending for himself five years ago, lost Five industrial machines , seven tailoring machines, and other sewing equipment worth millions of naira.
Another victim, who also sows cloths, Mmesoma Chidebe and another shop owner, Mr Lawrence Okeke recounted their losses as they appealed for urgent government assistance.
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 his 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.
One of the victims who sells wholesale provisions, could not bring out any item from the shop including a cash of four hundred thousand naira he kept in the drawer inside the shop.
Other victims while counting their loses, appealed to both the Federal, state and wealthy individuals to save them from taking their own lives by coming to their aid as they may not be able to 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 loose hope as a team will be sent to take inventory and assessment of the level of damage done, with a view to making a case on their behalf.
/UN
