A fire that broke out in a building in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Thursday caused severe damage to the property inside. The fire destroyed industrial sewing machines and parts of the building, leading to a significant financial loss.

The incident occurred in the Fegge area of Onitsha around 2:30 am. Mr. Jude, the tenant who used the top floor of the building for his sewing workshop, explained that the fire was caused by an electricity surge. He mentioned that the surge had been ongoing throughout the previous night, making it difficult to control. As a result, seven industrial sewing machines, each valued at N1.5 million, were destroyed along with other equipment and materials, adding up to millions of naira in losses.

The building’s landlord, Aaron Ezeobi, expressed his frustration over the situation. He had been warning Mr. Jude about using the building for business and had even served a quit notice, which was set to expire next month. Ezeobi was deeply pained by the incident, especially given the high cost of repairing the building and replacing the lost equipment.

Engr. Emeka Idu, the House of Representatives Member for Onitsha North and South Constituency, expressed sympathy for the victims. He encouraged both the landlord and tenant to stay calm and not let the loss affect their health. Idu offered financial support of N200,000 to Mr. Jude and assured him that he would investigate the cost of the destroyed machines to provide further assistance. He also pledged to help with the rebuilding of the building once the roof is repaired.

Despite the heavy loss, the community remains hopeful that the victims will recover with the support of local representatives and well-wishers.