…victims cry out for help
Some traders at Afor Iwollo Ogher Market, in Ezeagu local government area of Enugu State have been thrown into penury as early morning fire razed down their shops.
The fire which started at about 2am on Saturday, 2nd October, 2021 destroyed not fewer than twenty shops and goods worth millions of naira burnt to ashes.
Journalist101 gathered that the shop owners could not explain how the fire started because according to them, it couldn’t have been as a result of power surge as the public power supply went off around noon, while the inferno started about 2 am.
Some of the affected traders took turn to narrate their loses while calling on the relevant authorities to come to their aid as the incident has left them helpless.
One of the affected traders, Mrs. Caroline Onyigbo’s case is peculiar as she lost her shop and her apartment which to the inferno.
While narrating how she escaped with her kids, Mrs. Caroline said “I was sleeping with the kids, suddenly I began to choke due to the inhalation of too much smoke.
“Then, I woke up to discover thick smoke from the ceiling. I opened the indoor and saw that there is a fire outbreak and our shop was already on fire. I began to shout, as I wake up and run out of the compound with the kids shouting”.
It was also a harvest of tears while wife of a medical and cosmetic shop owner, Mrs. Blessing Ezi narrated that nothing tangible was was saved from their shop.
Similarly, Mrs. Jane Okpoko (Madan stainless) and little Chidubem Ani were seen trying to pick some of the remains of her wares. Little Chidubem who spoke on behalf of her mother, revealed that among items burnt were big refrigerators, wheelbarrows, cooking gas cylinders, plates, plasma television, sound systems, food stocks, and many other items.
Also, another affected shop owner burnt, Mr. Ifeanyi Udeaba stated that his means of livelihood has been destroyed as he points at the refrigerators, wheelbarrows, other metal equipment that could be seen destroyed in his shop.
They called on Ezeagu Local Government authority, Enugu state government through the state emergency management agency to intervene and come to their aid.
Reacting to the development, the Member representing Ezeagu Constituency at the state House Of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Chima Obieze expressed sadness about the incident and promised not to leave the victims behind in this trying time.
Though not within the state currently, Hon. Obieze said he sent few of his aides “who were at the scene of the incident this morning to ascertain the level of damage and to console the victims of the incident.
“I commiserate with the victims of this ugly incident and I assure them that I will reach out to relevant government offices especially our humane and amiable Governor for intervention,” he said.
