Three children were rescued when a fire gutted a storey building on Obi Onuorah Crescent, behind Okowe Plaza in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
During a visit to the scene on Friday, it was observed that the roof and two apartments were completely destroyed, resulting in property damage worth millions of naira. The cause of the fire was yet to be determined at the time of reporting.
A widow and mother of four, Mrs. Gloria Sado, who was seen weeping, appealed to Nigerians for assistance. She recounted, “I came back Thursday night around 9 pm and saw our house on fire. My three children were inside, while one was with me at the market. It took a lot of effort to rescue my children. I don’t know the cause of the fire.”
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Mrs. Sado also expressed frustration with the fire services, stating, “All three fire services that came did not have water to quench the fire. Our property was burnt to ashes.”
Her neighbor, Simon Amalimen, a father of two, shared his experience: “I was in my apartment when I heard shouts of ‘fire, fire.’ I rushed out and saw the fire coming from my neighbor’s apartment. Knowing that the three children were inside sleeping, we immediately went in to rescue them, but the fire had already spread to my apartment. My wife and two children were also rescued. I escaped with only the boxers I was wearing.”
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Amalimen added that before the third fire service arrived, both apartments and their contents were destroyed. The victims are currently homeless, with sympathizers purchasing clothes for them.
An official of the state fire service, who requested anonymity, confirmed the incident.