In a shocking turn of events, an early morning fire has ravaged Nkwo Enugu-Ukwu Market Square in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, charring multiple shops and obliterating valuable goods. This alarming incident is just the latest in a disheartening string of fire catastrophes in the region,six reported fire outbreaks in less than a week! 

Just recently, a petrol tanker explosion near the Ozubulu Local Government Secretariat claimed one life and destroyed six shops, while a factory blaze in Nnewi sent shockwaves through the community. And let’s not forget the devastating fire that wiped out multiple businesses in a three-storey commercial building at Nodu Market in Awka South. 

Witnesses say the Nkwo Enugu-Ukwu Market fire erupted around 3 a.m., targeting provision shops and roofing materials. Preliminary investigations point to electrical surges as the culprit. “It’s all about poor electrical connections,” lamented one shop owner who preferred to remain anonymous. “We were alerted in the middle of the night, but by the time we arrived, the fire had already destroyed countless shops and items.”

Chukwudi Chiketa, the Head of Media and Publicity for the Anambra State Fire Service, confirmed the incident and emphasized the urgency of the response. “We received the distress call at 3:43 a.m. and were on the scene quickly,” he said. But is that really enough? While he claimed that the damage was limited to one shop, the community feels the weight of the loss heavily.

Chiketa urged shop owners and residents to conduct immediate electrical inspections to prevent future disasters. “Switch off electrical appliances when not in use!” he warned. But will anyone heed this advice after such catastrophic losses?

In a related incident, earlier reports revealed a fire that devastated a three-storey commercial building at Nodu Market, resulting in millions of naira in damages. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but how many more incidents will it take before the community takes action?

Eyewitnesses described the fire as raging out of control before firefighters finally arrived, desperately trying to contain the devastation. The Anambra State Fire Service continues to preach vigilance and proactive safety measures, but the pressing question remains: Is anyone truly listening?

As the community reels from this fire crisis, one thing is clear: Anambra State must confront its glaring safety issues before it’s too late.