Nnewi Tragedy: Factory owner visits morgue, shed tears

*As Lawmaker laments, commiserates with victims *Memorial service held at Igwe Orizu palace ahead Ofala 2015 kick off, yesterday

His tears visibly melted the heart of others in his entourage too who cried emotionally too. It was indeed a painful spectacle to behold.

Gov Obiano of Anambra State visits Nnewi fire disaster scene

It was an outpouring of deep heartfelt emotions when the proprietor and owner of Chikason Group, Chief Chika Okafor visited the mortuary where remains of the victims were kept.

Chief Okafor cut short his foreign business trip to return to Nnewi to see and personally assess the Christmas eve fire that razed down the Inter Corp Oil Limited (LPG gas plant).

Inter Corp Oil Limited is a member of the Chikason Group where he’s the Executive Chairman.

About 100 citizens made up of the factory workers, customers, passers-bye and visitors lost their lives.

Chief Okafor broke down and wept bitterly at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University teaching hospital, Nnewi, when he went to see things for himself.

His tears visibly melted the heart of others in his entourage too who cried emotionally too. It was indeed a painful spectacle to behold.

His visit was followed by an interdenominational memorial service for the departed and prayers for the quick recovery of the injured and sustainability of survivors who were left behind, at the palace of Igwe Kenneth Orizu, early yesterday morning ahead the kick-off of the 2015 Ofala Festival.

Prominent citizens from across Anambra state have continued to react to the tragedy. 

A member of the Federal House of Representatives (Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal Constituency), Mr Dozie Nwankwo lamented the heavy casualty on a day many families were rounding up preparations for a joyous 2015 Xmas celebrations.

In his heartfelt condolences to the victims and families of those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident, Nwankwo appealed for employers of labour to try enforce strict discipline on security codes and to train their employees on dos and don’ts in any emergency situation, so as to reduce or eliminate number of casualties.

It would be recollected that some months ago when a section of the popular Nkwo Nnewi Market caught fire that the fire service personnel in the area were not alive to their duties as they gave unfounded excuses for their failures.

Again, the Christmas eve fire that rocked the Chikason Group where about six distinct manufacturing firms that make up the conglomerate were located has exposed the fire service personnel on Nnewi as too lax and unworthy.

Eye witness account on the factory fire told journalists that the fire broke out at about 11am as a result of an explosion that occurred when a gas truck was making an attempt to discharge its gas consignment without waiting to observe the specified mandatory cooling time period to discharge its goods, while many customers and staff were busy refilling their cylinders at the same time.

All the people who went to the gas plant to get a refill were allegedly burnt to death while some of the victims who were within the neighborhood and passers-by also got trapped in the raging inferno.

Burnt remains of victims and other badly affected persons in the vicinity were taken to the nearby Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH),while the blazing inferno prevented rescue workers’ quick and timely assess into the factory where the majority of the victims allegedly to be in their hundreds were trapped.

Nnewi is a very industrialized city with many manufacturing firms scattered all over while it also has about four major markets that were located in close proximity. Apart from the provision of job opportunities, revenue and its chain of benefits to both the citizens and the governments at all levels, Nnewi deserves better facilities. 

The roads network within the community bely the fact that it is the home of the late leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Eze Igbo Gburugburu. It was revealed that the former administration in the state turned its back to the community because the election results from the area had never favoured him.

Efforts to obtain comments from the chairman/Sole Administrator of Nnewi North council Chief Emeka Ojukwu Jr. failed as his assistant said he was making efforts to ensure the injured victims and those on danger list get the best medical attention.

But it would be recollected that he expressed disgust and readiness to penalize the indolent fire officers as a lesson to other units in the state.

An APGA chieftain, Chief Maurice Ebo has also sent his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident and prayed for those in hospitals for quick recovery.

Another citizen from Anambra West council, Mr Sunday Nwassah has commiserated with the governor, Willie Obiano over the unfortunate incident. He prayed God Almighty to assist him to continue give the citizens a fatherly attention.

From Chuks Collins, Awka

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