By Ugochukwu Alaribe

ABA—Property worth over N5 million was gutted by fire at Umuafor village, Obingwa council area of Abia State, weekend.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the inferno, which occurred at about 7a.m., consumed all the buildings and shops in the expansive compound as most of the residents had earlier left their homes for their business places.

Although no life was lost in the incident, the residents are at a loss as to the cause of the inferno when there was no electricity supply, which could have ignited the fire.

One of the landlords, Jamike Eguzo, told journalists that he was at his poultry farm away from the compound when he received a call that his building was on fire, but before he got home, the entire buildings and shops had been consumed.

Though men of the Fire Service later put out the fire, Head of Abia State Fire Service, Mr. Victor Gbaruko, could not be contacted for comments.

An official of the agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some property could have been saved had the residents contacted the service earlier.