14 shops and property worth millions of naira has been razed down by fire in Anambra as local residents are suspecting strage ghosts opposite a cemetery to be responsible for the inferno.
A fire incident which started at about 2.30am on Thursday and razed 14 shops and property worth millions of naira opposite a cemetery in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been described by shocked residents as 'a mystery fire.'
A source who pleaded anonymity when speaking with a correspondent, disclosed that the inferno may have been caused by ghosts.
He said, "On Monday, I saw strange faces here in my shop. They asked me the prices of sardine and bread and Fanta. I told them the prices of the items. They smiled and left.
On Tuesday, they came again and asked me whether I had reduced the prices of the items, I said no. They left my shop and started visiting other shops one after another. People were staring at them because they were just looking strange; they are not from here.
It was in the evening of Wednesday that my neighbour here told me that the same people came and warned that they would set this place ablaze if we didn’t reduce the cost of our goods.
My neighbour said after issuing the warning, the strange people, who were six in number, moved to the direction of the cemetery, and he didn’t see them again, only for us to come to this place this morning to see our shops in ruins. We lost everything," the source said.
Another resident, Steven Agupugo, who spoke with Southern City News, said the cause of the fire could not be ascertained.
"We are surprised to see this, this morning (Thursday). I’m dumbfounded. One cannot say it was power surge because there was no supply from the public power source for some time here."
The governor of Anambra State, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, sympathized with the traders and expressed shock that the live-savings of some people could be burnt within minutes. "This kind of incident calls for worry. Together, we shall make efforts to avoid future occurrence."
According to report, the governor promised that the state government would make arrangements to take care of the situation while urging the people to always observe the basic safety rules.
