By Ugochukwu Alaribe

ABA—Property worth over N5 million, belonging to a Catholic priest in Aba, Abia State, was reportedly gutted by fire at the Omuma area of the city, yesterday.

The priest, Rev. Father Charles Ubawuike, presides over St. Martins Catholic Church on Omuma Road.

The inferno, which started at about 6.30a.m., consumed the living room, clothing, books, bedroom, computer systems, television, air conditioners and other household items belonging to the priest and the church.

Efforts by members of the church, who were at the morning mass, to put out the fire with detergent and water failed, and they were unable to contact firemen.

A member of the Church told Vanguard that the Rev. Father was administering the Holy Communion when an alarm was raised that his residence was on fire, and that it was difficult for him to leave the Mass.

Narrating his ordeal, Rev. Father Ubawuike lamented that all he had toiled for in life was consumed by the fire.

He expressed shock on how the inferno started, stressing that all electrical gadgets in the apartment were switched off since there was no power supply at the time of the incident.

The priest further thanked God for sparing his life and added that the Diocesan Administrator has been informed about the incident.