Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Fire has burnt down the house of a physically challenged man, Mr. Linus Eji, in Ebonyi State rendering him homeless.
The incident happened in his Ododokpa Ndubia Igbeagu residence in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Mr. Eji while narrating his ordeal said that the mysterious fire gutted his house in the early hours of Wednesday, 11th September 2024 when he was sitting outside with his two children, preparing breakfast.
He lamented that because of his condition and inability of help to come, he was unable to evacuate any property form the house.
He lamented that he lost his means of livelihood which are his working tools in the inferno and as a result can no longer feed the family and send the children back to school as the new academic session resumes.
Mr. Eji who is into shoe-making and repairs despite his condition said he is depressed by the unfortunate incident and called on for assistance from relevant government agencies and the general public in order to feed his children in this economic hardship.
Some of the items destroyed by the inferno includes, clothes, newly harvested bags of rice, Television set, Sewing machine belonging to the wife and all the equipment he uses for his shoe-making and repairs.
He said: “I was with my two children outside our house around 8am on Wednesday, 11th September 2024, when I noticed that fire had gutted our house and I couldn’t move or do anything because of my condition.”
“Everything in that house was totally burnt down. Not even a pin was removed. I only have this clothing that I am putting on and nothing again.”
“Apart from my shoe-making and repairs business, I also engage in rice farming. Just recent I harvested my rice, stored the bags inside the house waiting for it to be milled, only for this unfortunate incident to befall us and burnt all that belongs to me.
“The situation is so devastating and it has brought me back to scratch. I have to start all over again. My children need to go back to school. We need a roof over our head and we still need to feed.
“You can see my children here. We plead that good spirited Nigerians should come to our rescue and help us.”