Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed by fire in a double wholesale shop along Umuohu Okpula Ndume axis of Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, Umuahia, Abia State on Friday.

The inferno happened just six days after midnight fire destroyed property in another shop at Abriba street by Owerri road in the same city.

Narrating her predicament to Ekwutosblog in tears, the victim of the latest fire incident, Mrs Abigail Uzodinma, said it was  strange as she could not explain how her shop would go up in flames when there was no electricity supply or inflammable materials.

She said that she received a surprise phone call at midnight that her shops stocked with millions of Naira worth of goods were on fire.

Among the items gutted by fire were bags of rice, garri condiments among other valuable goods.

She said the destroyed goods were worth about 70  million Naira

Mrs Uzodinma begged  the Abia State government  and  individuals to come to her aid to enable her pay the debt she incurred and return to business.

Ekwutosblog gathered that  it was the intervention of the men of Abia  State Fire Service and  residents that prevented the fire from escalating to other buildings around the area.

In a related development, a 43-year-old businesswoman, Mrs Njideka Okoye has cried out that thieves stole all the 70 bags of rice in her shop located at World Bank Housing Estate in Umuahia.

Mrs Okoye, who said that the thieves broke her shop and carted away the goods at night, said that the incident happened a few days after she packed into the shop.

The victim begged for assistance from the Abia State government and individuals, even as she called for the arrest and prosecution of the thieves.

At least one person has been confirmed dead and several houses razed following an attack on Fulani settlements in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State by a group of vigilantes and local hunters.

According to a post on Friday by security analyst Zagazola Makama on X, the attack occurred at about 3:40 p.m. on Thursday, when the assailants, numbering around 100, stormed Fulani settlements in Latayi, Onashi, and Rogua villages under the guise of fighting kidnapping.

“The attackers reportedly set houses and food storage facilities on fire, killed a yet-to-be-identified Fulani man, and looted property including N1 million in cash and six motorcycles,” Makama wrote.

Sources said a joint team comprising military, police, and civil defence personnel has been deployed to the area to maintain peace and prevent any retaliatory attacks.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to apprehend the rogue vigilantes behind the assault and recover the stolen money and motorcycles.