Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
A midnight fire has burnt Mr. Etebet Oyemara, age, 60, to death in Benin City.
The unfortunate incident happened at No. 14 Benso Street, off Okhoro Road in the state.
It was said that Mr. Oyemara was indoors with his wife and other occupants when the incident happened and he was caught in the inferno while attempting to salvage his property.
Also, his wife, Mrs. Oyemara, sustained severe burns and is currently receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin.
It was said that the late Oyemara was the head of the electrical unit of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
The tragic incident has thrown both the church and the wider Okhoro community into mourning.
According to sources, an impromptu Mass was held in the afternoon in memory of the deceased, while arrangements are underway to transport his remains to his hometown in the Eastern part of Nigeria.
A visit to the scene revealed the charred rubble of the building.
Officials of the Edo State Fire Service, along with support from Guinness Nigeria Plc, reportedly helped to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby properties.
Some of the affected residents, including Mr. Joseph Eromonsele, Mr. Emmanuel Ebenezer, and Mr. Johnbull Ojeabulu appealed to the Edo State Government and other relevant authorities for support, lamenting that they lost all their life savings in the incident.
As at press time, the cause of the fire remains unknown.
When contacted, the image maker of the Edo State Police Command, CSP Moses Joel Yamu, confirmed the incident.
“It is confirmed. One 60-year-old, Etebet Oyemara, lost his life in the fire. Investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of the incident,” he said.
