At least 10 shops and a residential building were destroyed in a fire incident near the Afor Nkpor Market, situated on Oraukwu Crescent/Nkpor Old Road, within the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
According to an eyewitness, who only gave his name as Bassey, “The fire started from a shop on Sunday night. We were at a nearby drinking spot when we heard a loud noise that sounded like a thunder. Suddenly, thick smoke engulfed the entire area.”
He further narrated that they immediately rushed out and used sand and whatever was nearby to try to quench the fire but to no avail as it continued to extend to other shops.
He continued: “For about 30 minutes, we were fighting the inferno, but it worsened and by then half of the shops and residential building had been razed completely.
“As we continued the fight, personnel of the state fire service stormed the place, and in anger, angry youths stoned them, and they ran away with their truck.”
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A resident of the area who spoke in anonymity said, “God saved the fire service men because the angry youths wanted to lynch them for coming late to the scene of the incident.
“Goods worth millions of naira that were mostly provisions in about 10 shops were damaged.”
