By Kamsi Anayo
Goods worth millions of Naira have been destroyed by a fire outbreak in several shops in Isuanuocha, Awka North Local government area of Anambra state.
The incident which started at about 12am on Wednesday took the assistance of neighbors in the area to put out the fire as several phone calls to the Anambra State Fire Service yielded no result.
The shop owners had gone home when a security man on duty noticed the brazen fire from one of the shops and started alerting the people.
Immediately after the incident was noticed, a few Individuals who had phone numbers of the Anambra state fire service started calling them, but there was no response according to Mr Okafor Somadina and Mrs Rita Ezenwanne.
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 her four shops.
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 clothes, Mmesoma Chidebe, and another shop owner, Mr Lawrence Okeke recounted their losses as they appealed for urgent government assistance.
The Owner of the structure 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.
One of the victims who sells wholesale provisions, could not bring out any item from the shop including cash of N400,000 he kept in the drawer.
Other victims, while counting their losses, 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.
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Chief Paul Odenigbo, encouraged the victims not to lose 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.
