A devastating fire has razed a six-room apartment worth over ₦40 million in Nchoko, Ndechi community, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, leaving a widower and his children homeless.
The incident, which occurred around midnight, almost claimed the life of Mr. Michael Emerike, a physically challenged father who narrowly escaped after two unknown men reportedly dragged him out moments before the roof collapsed.
Emerike, who is hearing-impaired, said he woke up to loud noises at his window. “As soon as I opened the door, two men pulled me outside. Within seconds, the ceiling came down. If they hadn’t forced me out, I wouldn’t be alive,” he recounted while displaying injuries from the escape.
His son, Monday Emerike, said he arrived to see flames engulfing the building. According to him, every household item—clothes, food, electronics, and furniture—was destroyed. The property, built just three years ago by his parents, has now been reduced to ashes.
Community members allege arson, insisting the fire was intentionally set. Stanley Nwoga, an in-law to the family and a Director of Works in Abakaliki, ruled out electrical faults, noting the house had no power supply due to unpaid bills. He also revealed that suspicious markings inside the rooms indicated possible use of inflammable substances.
A neighbour, Joseph Nwedu, who helped in the rescue, said the outcome would have been fatal if he hadn’t forced the door open. “The family would have been buried under the rubble by now,” he said, adding that the survivors are currently sleeping in a small abandoned poultry pen.
Condemning the incident, Reverend Remy Olukamma described the attack as “wickedness in its purest form” and urged authorities to intervene quickly. Residents further appealed to the government to decentralize fire service stations across Ebonyi State, noting that rural communities often suffer delayed emergency response.
The displaced family is calling on Ebonyi SEMA, NEMA, the state government, NGOs, churches, and well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aid as they have lost everything.
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