Fire on Friday destroyed a double wholesale shop containing goods worth millions of Naira along Umuohu Okpula Ndume axis of Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, Umuahia, Abia State.
The inferno happened just six days after midnight fire destroyed property in another shop at Abriba street by Owerri road in the same city.
The inferno happened just six days after midnight fire destroyed property in another shop at Abriba street by Owerri road in the same city.
Narrating her predicament in tears, Mrs. Abigail Uzodinma, victim of the latest fire incident, said it was strange as she could not explain how her shop would go up in flames when there was no electricity supply or inflammable materials.
She said that she received a surprise phone call at midnight that her shops stocked with millions of Naira worth of goods were on fire.
Among the items gutted by fire were bags of rice, garri, and condiments among other valuable goods.
She said the destroyed goods were worth about 70 million Naira
Mrs. Uzodinma begged the Abia State government and individuals to come to her aid to enable her pay the debt she incurred and return to business.
The intervention of the men of Abia State Fire Service and residents, it was gathered, prevented the fire from escalating to other buildings around the area.
In a related development, a 43-year-old businesswoman, Mrs Njideka Okoye, has cried out that thieves stole all the 70 bags of rice in her shop located at World Bank Housing Estate in Umuahia.
Mrs. Okoye, who said that the thieves broke her shop and carted away the goods at night, said that the incident happened a few days after she packed into the shop.
The victim begged for assistance from the Abia State government and individuals, even as she called for the arrest and prosecution of the thieves.
