By Precious Olileanya Nnadi
A late-night fire outbreak on Wednesday, April 10, 2025, has left an elderly widower completely devastated after his provision shop in Nkworji Market, Owerri, Imo State, was burnt to the ground. The inferno, which began around 9:00 p.m., destroyed the shop and everything in it—just months after the man lost his wife, leaving him as the sole guardian of three young children still in primary school.
Locals say the fire was triggered by a candle left burning inside the store, a common workaround during power outages in the area. By the time nearby traders noticed the flames and raised alarm, the fire had already consumed most of the goods stocked in the tightly packed wooden structure.
While sympathizers and fellow traders rushed to save nearby shops, nothing could be salvaged from the elderly man’s store. The shop, which he had run for years to feed and support his children’s education, was completely destroyed—reducing years of sacrifice to ashes in minutes.
Fire service officials reportedly arrived late, as efforts to reach them were delayed by network issues and confusion over location details. By the time help came, the shop had been razed, sparking widespread anger among traders who blamed poor emergency response and lack of equipment.
Neighbors who witnessed the heartbreaking scene recounted how the grieving father collapsed in tears, crying out in agony over the loss. “He kept shouting, ‘How will I feed my children now?’” one witness said. Many described him as a kind, resilient man who had been struggling silently since his wife’s passing.
Community leaders and market executives have called for urgent intervention from the Imo State Government to equip the fire service with better resources and introduce market fire safety awareness. Many believe the tragedy could have been avoided with stricter adherence to fire safety measures and timely response from emergency units.
