A devastating fire outbreak on Saturday, December 28, 2024, engulfed the Odenigbo Nsukka Deeper Life Church and neighboring shops, leaving destruction in its wake and throwing residents of the university town into chaos.
The inferno, which reportedly began around 1 pm, spread rapidly, consuming over 10 shops, including a motorcycle repair workshop located near the church.
Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed, including all belongings within the church. Despite the intensity of the blaze, no casualties were reported.
Witnesses at the scene described harrowing moments as business owners struggled to salvage their wares.
Tearful shop owners combed through the ruins, lamenting the losses caused by the fire.
Wilson Fire Service, a private firefighting company led by Wilson Agbo, played a pivotal role in containing the fire.
The swift response of Agbo and his team, supported by policemen, was credited with preventing further damage.
“The fire was overwhelming, but thanks to Wilson Agbo’s quick intervention, it was brought under control,” said one of the affected shop owners.
Although there were speculations about the cause of the fire, ranging from a possible power surge to other unidentified triggers, the exact cause remained unconfirmed at the time of reporting.
Efforts to reach the Enugu State Fire Service and Nsukka Local Government Chairman, Chinedu Asogwa, for comments were unsuccessful.
This tragic incident has left many victims counting their losses while raising questions about the state of emergency preparedness in the area. Residents have called for improved firefighting infrastructure to prevent such occurrences in the future.
