By Chikezie Ogbonna
Tragedy on Sunday 25th July struck the quiet community of Umumba Ndi-Uno, Ezeagu Local Government Area, Enugu State as Raymond Aneke a 75 year old man, his 68 year old wife, Caroline Aneke and a toddler living with them, Chisimdi Aneke were burnt beyond recognition following a dangerous fire that engulfed their house in the community.
According to reports, the fire incident happened at about 11pm on Sunday while the family was fast asleep. A kerosene lantern is suspected to be the source of the fire.
Speaking to The Choice Flame Newspaper, the distraught son of the couple, Cornelius Aneke said that he was called around 11pm that the family house his parents were occupying was on fire. According to him, there were five (5) occupants of the house as at the time the fire began. However, two people were able to escape before the raging fire destroyed every single thing in the house. The two survivors who are 8 and 5 years old happen to be staying with the two aged couple and their toddler sibling who is now deceased.
“They are my parents and I am the second child. It was on Sunday evening after we have stayed together. I retired to the church, where I always stay.
“Then about 11pm to 12am, I was called that my family house was on fire. By the time I came down, I met a lot of people around trying to quench the fire. There were 5 of them that slept in the building, two of the kids escaped. I was told it was a kerosene lantern they always slept with and it started from my Mum’s side.
“My father is 75 while my mum is 68. My dad has been sick and has been bed ridden for over 20 years and my mum has been the one taking care of him”, said the visibly traumatic Son.
The Parish Priest of St. Mary Parish, Umumba Ndi-Uno, Fr. Paschal Aneke who was at hand as efforts to quench the fire lasted through the night by members of the community shared with us how he made concerted efforts to reach out for help from many quarters including the state fire service as at the time the entire building was up in flames.
Fr. Paschal confirmed to us that the victims where ardent Catholics and told us that he periodically visited the family for sick calls for the aged father who according to reports has been sick and bed ridden for almost 20 years.
“It was around 11pm last night when I received a call from one of his sons who lives with me at the Parish house. On my arrival, I met the three corpses with the charred bodies lying there, although two of the children escaped through the window.
“The Christian community in the village as well as the Villagers turned out in their numbers to put off the fire”, Fr. Paschal said.
He further acknowledged the efforts by individuals and some government officials who rose to the occasion when the entire community was in a state of confusion following the gruesome death in the family. Chief amongst them is the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Cecilia Ezeilo, Ezeagu Local Government Chairman Hon. Chukwudi Ani as well as the state Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Hon. Okey David Ugwunta who is also an indigene of the community.
As at the time we visited the site of the tragedy, the Hon. Commissioner was at hand to ascertain the situation of things as efforts were being made for the immediate burial of the deceased.
With such an avoidable tragedy, safety should always be at the focal point as we use home appliances, especially highly inflammable appliances.
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