Shop owners whose businesses were destroyed in a fire outbreak at 36 New Umuahia Road, Ogbor Hill, Aba, have appealed to the Abia State Government and public-spirited individuals to urgently come to their aid and help them start afresh.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze started around 2 p.m. on Sunday, reportedly from a solar-powered electrical device inside one of the shops, before it spread rapidly and engulfed the entire building.
Although firefighters later arrived at the scene, the fire had already razed the shops, leaving goods, tools, and properties worth several millions of naira completely destroyed.
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The victims include Destiny Uwa, a dealer in packaging materials and supplies; Onyekachi Nelson, who specializes in hair clippers and sharpening services; Rose Onwuka, a wholesaler of Nigerian Breweries products; and Kelechi, a trader in poultry feeds and related products.
Also affected was Mr. Prosper Ukoha, who had invested more than ₦27 million to fully furnish and equip his new salon shop with modern tools and machinery, in preparation for a grand opening scheduled for the following day. His dreams, along with the businesses of others, were reduced to ashes in the inferno.
Speaking to reporters, the victims described their losses as devastating and unbearable, stressing that they would find it difficult to recover without immediate intervention.
They called on Governor Alex Otti, the Abia State Government, and well-meaning Nigerians to extend urgent support, adding that such assistance would determine whether or not they could return to business.
Residents of the area also urged the government to improve fire safety enforcement and strengthen emergency response measures in Aba to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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