Anambra Fire destroyed Ten shops and a Building

In the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, a fire incident happened close to the Afor Nkpor Market, Oraukwu Crescent/Nkpor Old Road, resulting in the destruction of ten shops and a residential building.

According to information obtained by Punch Metro, a power surge from one of the market’s stores was the cause of the fire that broke out late on Sunday night.

When our correspondent visited the scene of the incident on Monday afternoon, victims and some of the shop owners were seen inspecting the damage done while some were rummaging through the rubble to see if they could find any valuable to salvage.

An eyewitness near the scene, who simply identified himself as Bassey, said, “The fire started from one of the shops on Sunday night. We were in a nearby drinking joint when suddenly we heard a loud noise that sounded like a thunder and before we knew it, the entire place was engulfed by a thick smoke.

“We then rushed out and used sand and whatever that was within reach to try to quench the fire but to no avail as it continued to extend to other shops. We continued in our effort but the fire resisted our efforts.

“For about 30 minutes, we were fighting the inferno but it worsened and by then half of the shops and residential building had been razed completely.

“As we continued the fight, personnel of the state fire service stormed the place and in anger, angry youths stoned them and they ran away with their truck. The firemen were pursued and their vehicle damaged in the process but they managed and escaped with it.”

Also reacting, a resident of the area who pleaded anonymity, said, “God saved the fire service men because the angry youths wanted to lynch them for coming late to the scene of the incident.

“However, the entire shops and a residential building were destroyed beyond recognition as the fire resisted efforts to quench it, it resulted in stampede as it occurred in most of the shops within the premises touched by the inferno.

“Goods worth millions of naira, that were mostly provisions in about 10 shops, POS services, salon, among others, were damaged beyond recognition by the ravaging inferno.

“No life was lost but scores sustained various degrees of injuries as a result of stampede. Gas cylinders stored in some of the shops were said to have escalated the inferno.”

At the time of filing this report, victims were seen counting their losses and calling on the state government to come to their rescue.

Calls and messages to the state fire chief’s phone number, Martin Agbili, went unanswered as of the time this report was filed, so attempts to get his response were unsuccessful.