Chaos and heartbreak struck the Fegge area of Onitsha in the early hours of Thursday as a devastating fire ripped through a residential building, leaving destruction in its wake and property worth millions of naira reduced to ashes.
The blaze, which reportedly began around 2:30 a.m., is believed to have been triggered by an electrical surge following unstable power supply the previous night.
Victims woke to a nightmare as flames consumed valuable equipment and fabric materials stored in the structure.
One of the worst-hit victims, Mr. Jude, who operated a mini industrial tailoring workshop on the top floor of the affected building, recounted the horror as he watched his years of investment vanish in flames.
“It started just before dawn. The power kept fluctuating throughout Wednesday night and then suddenly, fire broke out. I lost seven industrial sewing machines, each worth about N1.5 million, six standard machines, and countless cloth materials. It’s a huge loss I can’t quantify right now,” he lamented.
In the aftermath, the building’s owner, Mr. Aaron Ezeobi, expressed deep regret and revealed that tensions had existed prior to the incident.
He claimed he had warned Mr. Jude about operating a business in the residential property, having already issued a quit notice set to expire in the coming weeks.
“I’m devastated, not just by the damage but also the high cost of rebuilding. I told him the risks. Now look where we are,” Ezeobi said with visible frustration.
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Reacting to the incident, the federal lawmaker representing Onitsha North and South, Hon. Engr. Emeka Idu, visited the scene to commiserate with both tenant and landlord.
Offering immediate financial assistance of N200,000 to Mr. Jude, the legislator urged the victims to remain strong and avoid letting stress over the loss harm their health.
“I know how painful this is. But your health must come first. We can work towards replacing your machines and repairing the building. I’ll support the re-roofing and see how else I can help,” he promised.
As recovery efforts begin, residents of Fegge are left grappling with the aftermath of yet another avoidable disaster in an area plagued by poor electricity infrastructure.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement.