A fire outbreak in the shopping complex of the Police Officers’ Wives Association, rented out to traders in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, has destroyed about 40 shops and goods worth millions of naira. The inferno occurred on Sunday at around midnight, and it took the efforts of good Samaritans to put out the raging fire and prevent it from spreading to neighboring premises.
Witnesses reported that shops selling a variety of goods, including flatscreen televisions, chemicals, building materials, recharge cards, and provisions, were destroyed in the blaze. The largest privately-owned boutique in Abraka, with goods worth over N40 million, was also among the shops gutted by the fire. The owner of the shop reportedly fainted on arrival at the scene.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but some sources have speculated that it may be connected to high power voltage. Unfortunately, officials from the DELSU Fire Service could not be reached in time to respond to the incident.
The destruction caused by this fire outbreak is a significant blow to the traders who have lost their shops and goods, with many left to count their losses. It is a reminder of the importance of having adequate fire safety measures in place and the need for prompt and efficient emergency response services.
Efforts should be made by the relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the fire and to ensure that adequate measures are put in place to prevent such incidents in the future. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bright Edafe, could not be reached for comments on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
