A devastating fire incident occurred on Tuesday night at the popular Iweka Road, near Ochanja Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, destroying shops and goods valued at millions of naira. The fire, which ignited around 8:30 PM, rapidly consumed several shops, leaving a trail of destruction.
Eyewitnesses reported that the flames raged for several minutes before firefighters arrived, as many traders had already left for the day. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but it was confirmed by the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, led by Fire Chief Chukwudi Chiketa.
Chiketa stated that the fire service received a distress call at approximately 9:40 PM and promptly dispatched a team of firefighters and equipment to the scene. Thanks to their swift response, the fire was contained, preventing further escalation. “The incident affected four shops, but many others were saved in a two-storey building. These shops contained furniture materials such as leather and foam,” he explained.
After battling the flames, the firefighting crew withdrew from the scene around 3:05 AM on Wednesday, March 26. The community is now left to assess the damage and support the affected traders as they recover from this unfortunate incident.
