Three separate outbreaks in Awka and Onitsha damage commercial properties, with no lives lost

Property estimated to be worth millions of naira was damaged in Anambra fire outbreaks involving a commercial bank, a bookshop and a one-storey building containing 10 shops in Awka and Onitsha between Monday and Tuesday, August 10 and 11, 2026.

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Chukwudi Chiketa, Chief of the Anambra State Fire Service, confirmed the three incidents on Wednesday, saying firefighters responded promptly and prevented the fires from spreading to neighbouring properties. No death or injury was recorded in any of the incidents.

The affected locations included Keystone Bank along Port Harcourt Road in Fegge, Onitsha, a bookshop at No. 3 Venin Ezeani Street, Awada, Onitsha, and a commercial building along Ifite Road, Amaenyi, Awka.

At the Awka property, the fire was reported at about 12:05am on Monday after residents noticed flames at the one-storey building, which housed 10 shops.

Chiketa said the fire affected two shops on the first floor, damaging roofing materials, sections of the walls and goods stored inside the premises.

The fire service suspected an electrical fault, possibly involving an electric iron that had been left plugged in and overheated, as the cause.

Firefighters eventually contained the blaze and secured the area after extinguishing the flames. No casualty was recorded.

In Onitsha, firefighters were called to Keystone Bank on Port Harcourt Road at about 9:08am on Monday.

According to Chiketa, the fire was restricted to the bank’s network equipment room and did not spread to other sections of the building.

He attributed the incident to a power surge affecting the network equipment.

An eyewitness near the bank said thick smoke was seen around the network area before firefighters arrived.

“The fire started with thick smoke around the bank’s network area. It burnt for several minutes before the arrival of firefighters,” the eyewitness said.

Security personnel also reportedly cordoned off the area while firefighters worked to contain the blaze and prevent further disruption.

Chiketa said the firefighters returned to their station at about 11:29am after confirming that there was no further threat of escalation.

The third incident occurred at about 7:35am at the bookshop building on Venin Ezeani Street, Awada.

Firefighters were dispatched after receiving a distress call and worked to contain the flames. However, Chiketa said the cause of the fire had not been established when the report was filed.

The incidents highlight the continuing risk posed by electrical faults and unattended appliances in commercial premises, particularly where businesses operate in densely populated areas.

Chiketa urged residents, traders and property owners to take basic fire prevention measures seriously, including switching off electrical appliances when they are not in use and avoiding leaving potentially hazardous equipment unattended.

He also encouraged residents to report fire outbreaks as quickly as possible, noting that early intervention can make a crucial difference in limiting damage.

“The Anambra State Fire Service has responded to and successfully contained three separate fire incidents recorded in Awka and Onitsha between Monday and Tuesday,” Chiketa said.

While the Anambra fire outbreaks caused substantial property damage, the absence of fatalities or injuries provided a measure of relief amid the destruction.

The fire service’s prompt response also helped prevent the incidents from escalating into wider emergencies, particularly at the bank and the commercial building where neighbouring structures could have been exposed to the flames.

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Authorities are expected to continue assessing the affected properties and investigating the circumstances surrounding the outbreaks, particularly the bookshop fire whose cause remains undetermined.