Father of twins suffer losses, as inferno razes several shops, automobile workshops

By: Tonebsky Nesta

An Imo State born father of female twins, Mr. Oliver Obiaguncha was among several victims that suffered huge losses in the inferno that consumed vehicles, heavy duty machines and other valuables in the Effurun end of Airport road by St. Mary off Okotoru Street, Ugboroke near Warri.

The incident which started on Sunday July 25 very late in the night continued till the wee hours of Monday July 26, leaving all the items and valuables destroyed in spite of joint efforts of fire servicemen from both the Shell Petroleum Development Company and the State government.

Fresh Angle news crew that dashed to the scene of the incident at about 10am Monday July 26 saw some of the victims and sympathizers in utter disbelief as pockets of smoke littered the environment. The cause of the fire could not be ascertained by the victims and onlookers spoken to, but preliminary estimation puts the cost of the losses at well over twenty million naira.

Mr. Oliver Obiaguncha told Fresh Angle that he was alerted at about 11pm but on getting to the scene, he discovered that his entire electrical appliances and carpentry tools, including the new stock he purchased two days earlier were completely damaged. The father of 6 children, who has been doing business in the area for over 8 years, puts the cost of his damage at over eight hundred thousand naira.

Another victim, Mr. Jonah Udi corroborated the claims of other victims that the cause of the inferno was not known as at press time, even as he added that where the fire started from could also not be ascertained.

According to Mr. Udi who owns one of the mechanic workshops, 4 vehicles were among vital valuables that were lost in the late night fire. He explained that though some owners of the vehicles have been contacted and have come to see things for themselves, there have been no formal reactions from them.

Mr. Eziachi Chioma, manager of one of the affected business concerns, declared that fabricating machines, generators, drilling machines and other expensive tools valued at over 6million naira were destroyed by the fire.

No government official had visited the scene when our news crew arrived, but all the victims spoken to expectedly pleaded with the relevant government agencies to come to their rescue.

Fresh Angle investigations reveal that machinist, sprayer and panel beater workshops as well as tiles, tailoring and provision shops were completely razed in the incident even though no life was lost.