A fire outbreak has razed two blocks of shops located at a plaza along Kano Street near the Main Market in Onitsha, Anambra State.
It was gathered that the fire started in the early hours of Monday and men of the Anambra State Fire Service were deployed to extinguish after a challenging attempt.
According to the State Fire Chief, Martin Agbili, a distress call was put across to him around 2am concerning the fire outbreak and he immediately deployed his men to the area and they were able to quench the fire which continued to rage.
Agbili decried increasing rate of fire disaster within the state and called for caution.
Reacting to the incident, the Anambra State Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed that the situation had been put under control and that although no live was lost in the inferno but goods worth millions of naira has been affected.
He disclosed that preliminary information showed that the cause of the fire was as a result of electrical upsurge from a cosmetics store in the plaza.
Meanwhile, the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has commiserated with the victims of the fire accident. He expressed his sadness over the fire accident in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime.
The statement reads in part, “As a responsive government, we are already on top of the situation, investigating the remote and immediate causes of the fire, as well as the losses incurred with a view to averting a future recurrence of the disaster”.
Soludo applauded the efforts of the state’s emergency responders, especially the state fire service in making sure that the fire was extinguished. “
“Efforts of our emergency responders like the state fire service contributed in extinguishing the fire and I find their efforts heartwarming,” he said.
He, however, urged the victims to remain strong and resolute in the face of the extreme loss promising that his administration would continue to work with relevant institutions to find lasting solutions to the perennial fire incidences across the state.
The governor also reiterated the need for citizens to adhere to fire safety measures particularly in this season of the year.
The lawmaker representing Dunukofia/Njikoka/Anaocha Federal Constituency and Senatorial Candidate for Anambra Central, Hon. Dozie Nwankwo, MHR, (Onyendozi), also commiserated with the victims of the fire outbreak.
In his words, “I sympathize with those whose shops, wares and other valuables were affected by the unfortunate fire incident. More importantly, I thanked God that the colossal lost involved no loss of life.”
“Losing one’s means of livelihood at a time when the economy of our country is at its worst improving and at a period when bills such as payment of children’s school fees, rents, and others exigencies, are excruciating.”
“I urge the respective victims to find solace in the story of the biblical Job, as I hope they will recover and get back to their feet.”
“Finally, I commend the State Fire Service for its timely intervention that prevented further spread of the fire and I appreciate the State Government for living up to his responsibility,” he affirmed.
