ONITSHA, Nigeria — Property estimated to be worth millions of naira has been destroyed in three separate fire outbreaks that affected a commercial bank, a bookshop building, and a one-storey commercial building with 10 shops in Anambra State between Monday and Tuesday.

The incidents occurred in the commercial hubs of Onitsha and Awka. In Onitsha, a Keystone Bank branch on Port Harcourt Road in Fegge and a bookshop building at No. 3 Venin Ezeani Street, Awada, were affected. A third fire incident in Awka razed two shops and their contents within a one-storey commercial building housing 10 shops along Ifite Road, Amaenyi.

Eyewitnesses described thick smoke emanating from the bank before the fire took hold. Security operatives cordoned off the area to manage the situation until firefighters arrived and contained the blaze.

The state’s fire service chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incidents on Wednesday, stating that firefighters responded promptly and successfully prevented the fires from spreading.

Chiketa attributed the fire at Keystone Bank to a power surge affecting its network equipment. The fire at the commercial building in Awka was suspected to be caused by an electrical fault, possibly an overheating electric iron left plugged in.

The cause of the fire at the bookshop could not be ascertained at the time of reporting. The fire at the commercial building in Awka reportedly started around midnight on Monday, with firefighters battling it until the following day.

“The Anambra State Fire Service has responded to and successfully contained three separate fire incidents recorded in Awka and Onitsha between Monday and Tuesday,” Chiketa stated. “No life was lost in any of the incidents.”

He detailed that the Awka fire affected two shops on the first floor of the commercial building, damaging roofing materials, walls, and stored goods. Firefighters successfully extinguished this blaze, and no casualties were reported.

Regarding the bank incident, Chiketa noted that the fire affected only the bank’s network equipment room. Prompt intervention contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building or surrounding structures. This incident was also attributed to a power surge, with no casualties recorded.

The fire at the bookshop building occurred on Tuesday morning. Fire service personnel responded and worked to contain the blaze. The specific cause of this outbreak remains unknown.

Chiketa urged residents and business owners to adhere to basic fire safety measures, avoid leaving electrical appliances unattended, and report fire emergencies promptly to facilitate swift responses.