The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Millions gone

  • Millions gone as fire razes Aba market

    •Police arrest six security guards for questioning

    Goods and other property, including textile materials, estimated at millions of naira were destroyed yesterday when a fire gutted the popular Ekeoha/Shopping Centre located between Market Road and Ehi Road, off Aba-Owerri and Ehi roads in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.

    It was gathered that six security guards on duty in the area have been arrested and detained at Ndiegoro Police Division.

    Though traders in the affected lines – zones 3 and 6 – could not immediately ascertain the cause of the inferno, sources at the Abia State Fire Service in Aba attributed it to a “wilful” or deliberate act by a suspected arsonist.

    Our reporter, who visited the scene of the fire, noted that the fire affected shops MF 1A and KH 23up, said to belong to Mr. Hillary Asogwa from Nsukka in Enugu State and Mr. Peter from Neni in Anambra State.

    While the shop owners could not speak due to overwhelming emotion, it was gathered that the incident started around 4 a.m and lasted till about 7.30 a.m when fire fighters prevented the inferno from spreading to other shops.

    The suspected arsonist was said to have mistakenly set shop MF 1A on fire, apparently thinking it was the store of the owner of shop KH 23up.

    While shop KH 23up was reportedly stocked with lycra material, shop MF 1A was stocked with lace materials.

    The police were investigating the matter at the time of this report.

    It was learnt that the suspected arsonist broke a glass on top of the shops before setting them ablaze.

    “The shop at MF 1A just offloaded 15 giant bales of lace that were delivered in a 20-feet container, while the shop owner of KH 23up recently brought back some goods, which are yet to be touched.

    “From what happened, the owner of Shop MF 1A was just unfortunate to have suffered such a huge loss. We don’t think that he was the target. He became a victim because his shop is close to the shop of the man in KH 23up. We don’t use electricity here. Tell me how the two different shops could just get burnt. Whoever did this targeted the owner of shop KH23up, who has a parking store at MF2A. But the person wrongly set Shop MF 1A ablaze.”

    Efforts to get Aba Fire Chief, Mr. Okezie Uche, were unsuccessful last night.

    But a source at the station, who claimed to be in the team that put out the fire, said the cause of the inferno could not be far from what he called a “wilful act”.

    He said: “We got to the market around 4 a.m and worked until about 7.30 a.m. But the problem we encountered was that our vehicle could not enter the market because of the type of construction work and building of shops in the market. Almost all the fire routes in the market had been blocked with one structure or the other.

    “The security men on duty could not even easily identify the location of the inferno. That also delayed the time of attending to the fire. But the good news is that we were able to save goods estimated at millions of naira from being consumed in the inferno.”

    Addressing reporters yesterday, the caretaker chairman of Eke-Oha Shopping Centre, Mr. Friday Dimiri said: “At 3 o’clock this morning, I got a distress call from the security men here about a fire in the market. I quickly called firefighters and got the police involved to avoid theft. I rushed down here with my team and we have been here doing the most we can to calm things down. The firemen, with most of us, who came earlier, and with the help of God Almighty, helped made sure the fire didn’t spread to other parts of the market.

    “The police have arrested the security men who serve here to know the reality of the incident. The goods damaged by the fire cannot be ascertained yet as proper estimate with the owners have not been done. We will cooperate with the police to get to the bottom of the incident.”

     

  • Millions gone as fire razes 100 shops in Akure

    Property and goods estimated at millions of naira were destroyed yesterday when a fire razed a section of Akure South Local Government secretariat, beside Deji’s palace in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    It was learnt that over 100 lock-up shops were destroyed.

    Sources said the fire started from one of the shops around 1 a.m and spread to other shops.

    A victim, Ojo Owoeye, said he received a distress call around 1 a.m that shops were burning and he immediately rushed to the scene.

    Owoeye said he lost over N2.5 million to the fire, which he said was caused by power surge.

    A youth leader in Akure community, Tuyi Adekambi said: “The inferno started around 1 a.m as a result of power surge. The most annoying thing is that if we had functioning fire service in the state, the inferno wouldn’t have got to this extent.

    “For almost three hours, the fire service couldn’t get to the scene of the fire. It was the services of airport authority fire brigade service that rescued the situation or the fire would have got to the Deji’s place.

    “Government should be in a position to purchase vehicles for the fire service for each senatorial district.

    “My advice to the state government is that it should not come here and make empty promises to the affected shop owners. Government should buy fire service vehicles for each senatorial district and fuel them always, in case of any inferno in any part of the state.”

    The fire was said to have been curtailed by men of the airport authority fire brigade service.

    It was gathered that computer accessories and provision stores were destroyed.

    The President of Association of Office Documents and Computers in Akure, Mrs Elizabeth Orogun, told reporters that the fire was unfortunate.

    The businesswoman urged the state government to assist the victims.

    She said: “Over 100 shops were destroyed. Computers, generators, photocopying machines, cameras, clothes, among other items, were destroyed in the fire.”

    Mrs Orogun regretted that the shop owners could not salvage anything from the rubbles.

    She said: “No one could tell where the fire started from. We learnt that there was power supply around 12:30 a.m and, probably a resultant high voltage triggered the fire.

    “When people around here raised the alarm to the fire service, they said they did not have fuel in their vehicle.

    “Government should please come to our aid because of our numerous responsibilities as bread owners in our families. All our possessions have been destroyed by the fire.”

  • Millions gone as fire razes 100 shops in Akure

    Property and goods estimated at millions of naira were destroyed yesterday when a fire razed a section of Akure South Local Government secretariat, beside Deji’s palace in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    It was learnt that over 100 lock-up shops were destroyed.

    Sources said the fire started from one of the shops around 1 a.m and spread to other shops.

    A victim, Ojo Owoeye, said he received a distress call around 1 a.m that shops were burning and he immediately rushed to the scene.

    Owoeye said he lost over N2.5 million to the fire, which he said was caused by power surge.

    A youth leader in Akure community, Tuyi Adekambi said: “The inferno started around 1 a.m as a result of power surge. The most annoying thing is that if we had functioning fire service in the state, the inferno wouldn’t have got to this extent.

    “For almost three hours, the fire service couldn’t get to the scene of the fire. It was the services of airport authority fire brigade service that rescued the situation or the fire would have got to the Deji’s place.

    “Government should be in a position to purchase vehicles for the fire service for each senatorial district.

    “My advice to the state government is that it should not come here and make empty promises to the affected shop owners. Government should buy fire service vehicles for each senatorial district and fuel them always, in case of any inferno in any part of the state.”

    The fire was said to have been curtailed by men of the airport authority fire brigade service.

    It was gathered that computer accessories and provision stores were destroyed.

    The President of Association of Office Documents and Computers in Akure, Mrs Elizabeth Orogun, told reporters that the fire was unfortunate.

    The businesswoman urged the state government to assist the victims.

    She said: “Over 100 shops were destroyed. Computers, generators, photocopying machines, cameras, clothes, among other items, were destroyed in the fire.”

    Mrs Orogun regretted that the shop owners could not salvage anything from the rubbles.

    She said: “No one could tell where the fire started from. We learnt that there was power supply around 12:30 a.m and, probably a resultant high voltage triggered the fire.

    “When people around here raised the alarm to the fire service, they said they did not have fuel in their vehicle.

    “Government should please come to our aid because of our numerous responsibilities as bread owners in our families. All our possessions have been destroyed by the fire.”

  • Millions gone as fire razes shops in Akure

    Millions gone as fire razes shops in Akure

    An early morning fire yesterday destroyed property, mostly shops, estimated at millions of naira in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    The fire occurred near a roadblock junction, opposite Chicken Republic on Owo-Akure-Ilesa Road.

    It was learnt that the inferno started around 2 a. m and spread to other locked-up stores.

    Sources said it was caused by a power surge.

    It was learnt that the alleged late arrival of men of the state fire service aggravated the situation as many helpless traders resorted to self-help.

    Goods estimated at millions of naira inside the shops were burnt to ashes.

    The shops, it was gathered, belong to local traders, like food sellers, barbers, fashion designers, beer parlour owners, among others.

    The affected traders were seen wailing and counting their losses on the scene while passers-by commiserated with them.

    One of the affected traders, Paul Emmanuel, said about 12 shops were burnt to ashes.

    According to him, the goods he lost to the fire were costly tailoring materials, cosmetics, foodstuffs, assorted wares, among others.

    Emmanuel said the night fire started from one of the shops before spreading to other locked stores.

    The businessman described the inferno as tragic, adding that the traders recently stocked their shops for sales ahead of the Christmas festivities.

    He said: “I was called around 4 a.m that fire had gutted my shops at Roadblock Junction. By the time I got there, my shops and many others had been razed.

    “Many goods, estimated at millions of naira, have been lost here. It is very sad, especially with Christmas period around the corner.”

    Emmanuel said he called the fire service but did not get an answer from them.

    Another trader, Mrs Abimbola Adesanya, described the fire as unfortunate.

    She urged the government to assist the affected traders to revive their businesses.

     

  • Millions gone as tanker fire razes Abia community

    Millions gone as tanker fire razes Abia community

    A tanker conveying an unidentified fuel exploded yesterday at Ehere community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

    Several and property estimated at millions of naira were said to have been destroyed in the fire.

    Eyewitnesses said the fire, which raged between 2 p.m to 3 p.m, caused pandemonium in the area.

    The whereabouts of the driver of the tanker, which had no registration number, could not be established last night.

    Unconfirmed report said some pupils at a private school in the area sustained various degrees of injury as they scampered for safety.

    The Nation gathered that efforts to bring men of the state fire service to put out the fire failed.

    This, it was learnt, propelled the residents to resort to self-help.

    But the raging fire prevented them from entering some homes.

    Narrating the incident to our reporter, a resident who identified himself simply as Chukwuma, said: “The tanker driver was driving across our community. We have not been able to determine the content of the truck. It got to this point after bumping into a gallop. Then, the driver jumped down from the truck.

    “Before you could say jack, there was a loud noise, which threw the whole place into flame. People were running from every direction for safety, leaving shops open and cars behind. No pin was saved.

    “You know it is Monday; many shop owners had stocked their shops with goods at the weekend. Many others were yet to finish the drinks they could not sell at the weekend.

    “Opposite us, the owner of the shop had about five refrigerators that were stocked with drinks. All of them were consumed. It is better told than experienced. Many people were injured.

    “We thank God that no life has been lost as we speak. We tried to call men of fire service, but they said they didn’t have diesel. We learnt that a Good Samaritan bought gas for them and before they could come, everywhere was engulfed and no pin was saved.

    “But before their arrival, we were using water from the waterlogged road to pour into the fire until it was put out. But the damage had been done.”

    Over 10 shops were razed.

    The traditional ruler of Ehere community, Eze Young Nwangwa, described the incident as one too many.

    The monarch regretted the effect it would have on the affected shop owners.

  • Millions gone as rains destroy property in Asaba

    Property worth millions of naira were destroyed at the weekend when floods from a downpour pounded Asaba, the Delta State capital.

    The state government had awarded several drainage contracts but many of them were abandoned by the contractors.

    The flood wreaked havoc on Okpanam Road, despite the recent re-awarding of the contract by the Ifeanyi Okowa administration.

    But the contractor had not completed the drainage.

    The downpour, which lasted three hours, forced many residents to abandon their homes, while others removed furniture and other household items from their homes when they became flooded.

    The deluge in Asaba was worsened by clogged drains due mainly to dumping of wastes and poor drainage system.

    Scores of businesses were affected; many shopkeepers lost valuable equipment, including freezers, hair dressing equipment and provisions.

    Several motorists abandoned their vehicles after their cars malfunctioned in the middle of the flooded roads.

    Some residents expressed apprehension over the perennial flooding in the capital city, noting that at the peak of the rainy season the floods usually become acute.

    Areas worst hit by the floods include D.L.A Road, Jesus Saves Road, Stop Abortion Road, Ibusa Road by BYC Junction, Okpanam Road, N.T.A Road and Ezenei Avenue.

    The police command headquarters on Okpanam Road was also submerged.

    Officers of the command and visitors parked their vehicles on both sides of the dual carriage way of Okpanam Road, outside the premises of the police command.

    Our correspondent noted that offices, cells and other areas on the main premises of the command were not affected because of its elevated entrance.

    The police headquarters has become flood-prone due to its low-lying terrain.

    Flood water from Okpanam town and Inter-Bau end of the dual carriage way gathers there.

    Commissioner for Environment, Mr John Nani, assured that the government was working to address the perennial flooding in Asaba.

    The commissioner said flood channels on Okpanam Road were being de-silted and opened up.

    Also, the State Director of Information, Mr Paul Osahor, warned the residents, especially those in urban centres, to desist from dumping refuse indiscriminately in the gutters.

    He said the government would soon clamp down on those dumping waste in the drainage, adding that this was partly responsible for the flooding in the city.

     

  • Millions gone as fire destroys properties

    Millions gone as fire destroys properties

    Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed yesterday by fire at Jakande Estate in Oke-Afa in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area of Lagos.

    The incident which started around 8.30am, according to eyewitnesses, affected four flats in block 369 in the Double Star area of the estate.

    The Nation learnt that the occupants of one of the flats left their gas switch on. Another person said the fire emanated from the air conditioning machine that wasn’t switch off.

    One Tokunbo, who own a pharmaceutical shop in front of the house, blamed the high voltage of electricity supplied by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    Tokunbo said the electricity supply had been fluctuating since 5am.

    “I was sleeping when someone woke me that there was a fire outbreak. The high voltage also affected a bulb in the shop of a neighbour,” he said.

    “The occupants were not around when the fire started, they had all gone to work. They were alerted about the incident by some neighbours and when they returned, it was too late for them to save their belongings, they had all been destroyed by the inferno,” another eyewitness said.

    Another eyewitness who lives at the opposite block, said he was in his room when he heard his neighbour shouting fire in Yoruba.

    He spoke on condition of anonymity.

    “I heard someone shouting E gba wa o (help us), so I ran out thinking it was my neighbour’s flat that had caught fire; the next thing I saw was a heavy smoke coming out from that flat. The fire started up stairs and extended to the flat beside it. Everything in the two flats were razed. The fire fighters didn’t show up on time, so, we had to call on PHCN to switch off the light, which they did barely 35 minutes into the outbreak. The fire fighter came in an hour later.

    According to him, one woman’s charger was also destroyed by the voltage.

    A young man who gave his name as Daniel said the occupants of the building did not switched off the gas cooker before leaving for work.

    He said: “When the incident started, smoke was coming out from the kitchen. The owner of the other flat beside the flat upstairs was trying to save his one month old baby because his wife was not around; as he was trying to take the baby down stairs, the house had already caught fire. So, he couldn’t retrieve any of his properties.

    A man was seen lamenting the level of destruction.

    He couldn’t compose himself to speak with The Nation, rather shouting my brother’s house repeatedly.

    Director Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, said the outbreak on the two-storey building might have been caused by electrical surge adding: “Two flats of the three bedroom apartment were consumed by fire and there was no causality. Also, before we got the alert, it was late because as at the time we got to the scene, everything was damaged but we prevented it from spreading to the first floor. It is possible they left an appliance on before leaving the house. Immediately we entered the estate, we saw the flames.”

    Fadipe urged residents to always put off electrical appliances especially if electricity wasn’t restored before leaving home.

    The Nation learnt that the fire fighters were assisted by men of the Nigerian police and officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

    Ejigbo LCDA Executive Secretary Jaiye Alabi and the council’s Head of Admnistration, Nurudeen Shobajo visited the scene to assess the extent of damage cause by the fire.