By Nwogha Ndubuisi,Abakaliki
Tragedy struck at Onuebonyi Junction in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, as a devastating fire outbreak claimed the life of a four-year-old boy, identified as Osinachi, and left four others hospitalised.
The incident, which occurred at Abakaliki suburb was reportedly triggered by a cooking gas explosion in one of the shops at the busy junction.
An eyewitness, Mr Oku Chinagorom, told our correspondent that the fire started when a gas cylinder exploded and spread rapidly into nearby goods within the shop.
According to him, the shop owner, popularly known as Mama Osi, was in the shop, while her husband travelled to their village in Okposi a day before the incident occured.
However, in an attempt to rescue her four children who were inside at the time of the incident, she sustained severe burns in the process.
Tragically, one of the children who died in the inferno was burnt beyond recognition.
He explained that neighbours swiftly intervened and eventually put out the fire, while the four injured victims were rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention. Five stores were fully burnt down with goods and other items.
One of the affected shop owners, Mrs Nnenna Elom, lamented that the incident occurred shortly after she left her shop to prepare for a burial ceremony.
She said the fire destroyed her goods, including drums of oil and other items worth over ₦1 million.
Mrs Elom disclosed that she purchased most of the goods on credit and expressed deep distress over how to repay her suppliers, noting that goods worth over ₦700,000 that she collected that morning were completely consumed by the inferno.
She appealed to the Ebonyi State government and well-meaning individuals for assistance.
Another shop owner, Mr David Akam, an oil dealer, said the fire spread from a neighbouring shop and engulfed five shops in total.
He noted that goods worth over ₦20 million were lost in the inferno.
Confirming the incident, the Executive Secretary of Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency, EBSEMA, Mr Clement Ovuoba, said the agency had deployed a response team to the scene to assess the damage and document the losses.
He described the incident as unfortunate and assured victims that the matter would be reported to the appropriate authorities to facilitate possible intervention aimed at cushioning the effects of the tragedy.
As at the time of filing this report, one child had been confirmed dead, while four others are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
