Again, Fire Raises POWA Shops In Abraka, Destroys Multi-Million Naira Goods

By Faith Ogbotor

A devastating fire outbreak has gutted no fewer than eight shops within the shopping complex of the Police Officers’ Wives Association, rented out to traders in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

This is coming barely three years after a similar midnight inferno gutted about 40 shops within the same complex in February 2023.

According to eyewitness accounts, the blaze, which occurred in the evening of January 25, 2026, reportedly originated from a home appliances shop and resulted in the loss of properties worth millions of Naira.

It was gathered that residents of the community quickly mobilized to put out the fire in a bid to prevent it from spreading to adjacent structures.

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Their combined efforts reportedly helped to contain the widespread, though not before significant damage had been done to the warehoused goods.

Mr. Emmanuel Igho, a resident in the area, described the scene as chaotic, with community members fully engaged in fighting the fire to limit its spread.

One affected shop owner, Mrs. Queen, who has operated her business in the location for over two years, said she was not present when the incident began, as Sunday is her usual rest day. Neighbours alerted her to the outbreak.

“The fire started from a home appliances shop,” she recounted. While her shop was not completely destroyed—only part of the roof was affected—she managed to save most of her goods during the evacuation. However, she lamented that some items were stolen amid the confusion.

Another affected shop owner, who simply identified herself as Mrs. Franca, added that she has received no assistance so far and appealed to the public and relevant authorities for financial support to help her restock and revive her business.

One of the shop owners reportedly collapsed from shock upon seeing the extent of the destruction and was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident, and no official injuries were recorded, though properties suffered extensive damage.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation and is yet to be officially determined.

Eyewitnesses have urged residents and business owners to prioritise fire safety measures, including installing fire extinguishers in shops and homes to enable early detection and control of potential outbreaks.