ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- About 15 shops have been razed by fire in Isuanuocha community, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
It was gathered that goods worth millions were reportedly destroyed by the inferno which started at about 12am on Wednesday.
It took the intervention of neighbors to extinguish the fire after several unsuccessful phone calls put across to the State Fire Service, The Nation reports.
Some of the victims have appealed to Federal, State government as well as wealthy individuals to coming to their rescue as some of them might be forced to take their own lives over the shock.
Okafor Somadina told The Nation that they were fast asleep when some of them were alerted by security guard on duty who noticed the fire from one of the shops.
“Immediately we were alerted, a few of us who had phone numbers of the state fire service started calling them, but, regrettably, they didn’t respond,” he said.
Narrating her ordeal, another victim Mrs. Florence Ekemezie, a restaurant owner, said she lost four deep freezers, five standing fans, two refrigerators, a generating set, cartons of drinks, coolers, plates, and other valuables in her four shops.
Also, a tailor, Chukwuebuka Okeke, who said he had been in the business for over five years, listed items he lost to the fire to include five industrial machines, seven tailoring machines and other sewing equipment worth millions of naira.
“I began fending for myself five years ago. I wonder what else I will do. If care is not taken, some of us may be forced to commit suicide because of inability to cope with the present economic hardship in the country,” he sobbed.
Another victim, who sells wholesale provisions, said he could not bring out any item from his shop, including cash of N400,000 he kept in the drawer.
Owner of the structure, Chief Cletus Okafor, a retiree, lamented that he depended on proceeds from the shop rents to feed his family.
However, he expressed appreciation to God that no life was lost in the incident, appealing to government and spirited individuals for assistance.
Reacting, Chief Paul Odenigbo, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), sympathized with the victims and urged them not to lose hope.
He promised that a team would be sent to take inventory and assessment of the level of damage with a view to making case for them.