Occupants of houses and shops at World Bank section of old timber road, Umuahia, have appealed to the Abia State government and other individuals to come to their aid, following the destruction of their homes by a late night fire.
The inferno which started on Saturday at about 11:20 pm, according to the victims, started after electricity was restored in the area by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and affected two residential buildings and four shops with the burnt property valued at millions of naira.
Speaking in tears, the caretaker of one of the affected buildings, Mr. James Awom who described the incident as strange, said that efforts by tenants and sympathisers to stop the fire yielded no fruit as it increased in volume.
He regretted that his two bed room flat, together with those of his co-tenants were consumed by the fire before the arrival of men of Abia State Fire Service.
Awom appealed to the Abia State government to “come to our rescue by providing us with some money to start life again. All our belongings have been consumed and we have nowhere to start.”
He continued, “I also appeal to pastors, politicians companies to help us because we have been rendered homeless. Our means of livelihood are also gone with this fire. Most of us just returned from Christmas and new year”, Awom cried.
News Echo gathered that the burnt shops were occupied by fashion designers, provision dealers, pools office among others while the burnt residential buildings were occupied by some families.
The Chief Fire Officer of Abia State Fire Service, Mr. Arua Nnanna who reacted to the development, said it was the intervention of his men that stopped the fire from spreading to other buildings and shops and reiterated the need for residents to avoid any behavior that may lead to fire outbreak.
Nnanna also advised residents to install fire extinguishers in their homes to serve as emergency tool in tackling fire incidents before the arrival of men of the Abia State Fire Service. He commiserated with the families who lost their belongings.
