By Balogun Mabamije
UGHELLI/Nigeria: Residents of Ohoro Community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State that was ravaged by tanker fire have appealed to the local, the state government and public spirited individuals and organisations to come for their aid.
Speaking to newsmen through the chairman of the community, Mr Augustin Igometi, they said that the unexpected and unfortunate fire incident that occurred in the midnight of the faithful day had rendered many residents of the community homeless and hopeless.
Igometi said apart from the houses that were destroyed, all their household properties and monies were also consumed by the fire.
He expressed dismayed that since the fire incident, nothing meaningful had been done either by the local, state government or individuals to cushion the suffering of the those affected, just as he added that most of the affected persons were now at the mercy of neighbours who had little to offer.
He appealed to the Ughelli North Local Government Chairman, Chief Godwin Adode, the state government and individuals to render financial support in rebuilding the destroyed houses.
The chairman noted that most of the persons affected were peasant farmers who needed support of well meaning Nigerians.
One of those affected by the fire incident, Mr Johnbull, said he lost everything, except his wife and children, to the fire incident.
Johnbull, who narrated his predicament in tears, said they woke up to see the raging fire and could not pick anything but their lives from it, adding that he was lucky that his wife and children had travelled to Ughelli at the time of the fire incident.
He said his survival was now dependent on the help he could get from sympathising neighbours, just as he appealed to the state government for help.
It would be recalled that Ohoro Community in Ughelli North Local Government Area was on January 27, 2022 thrown into confusion when two fuel tankers involved in fatal accident burst into flames, claiming the lives of two persons and destroying properties worth millions of naira.
