An early morning fire on Wednesday, gutted some shops near the General Post Office at Ibokwu Street, by Old Market Road, Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inferno destroyed goods and property, including equipment worth millions of naira.

Mrs Chidimma Ike, an eyewitness and a house owner in one of the affected houses, said the fire emanated from one of the shops.

She said that residents saw the thick flames as they spread to other shops before they mobilised alongside passers-by to put off the fire and rescue goods in the shops.

Ike said that despite several calls to the state fire service, no firefighter came to the scene, adding that residents and passers-by battled to quench it and prevented it from escalating to other neighbouring structures.

According to her, the fire started in one of the shops early this morning, as we suddenly observed thick smoke and before we knew what was going on, it started raging.

“Most of the traders and shop owners did not come for business today as they were at home for Christmas.

“As the fire raged, several calls were made to the fire service but it was residents and passers-by that mobilised to rescue goods and battle the fire for several hours,” she said.

One of the affected shop owners, Mr Chinedu Nnamdi, who is also a resident in the area, said he saw smoke from afar and thought somebody was burning some waste because the shops were closed for the Christmas celebration.

Nnamdi said he was not aware that the smoke was from the fire that engulfed their shops until he received a call from his neighbours about the incident.

The Anambra State Fire Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, did not respond to calls as of the time of filing this report.