On that fateful day Thursday 26th March 2015, something disastrous struck a humble family in Owerri. For the family of 5 children (a boy and 4 girls), that day was a "BLACK THURSDAY" for them. Nobody ever thought such an event will occur and there was no sign of the event before it occurred. This event occurred around works layout road Owerri.
However, trouble started when the parents coming back from a religious function feeling hungry and were looking for something to eat, sent one of the girls on errand to purchase some liters of kerosene from an undisclosed filling station around Okigwe road in Owerri. She went and purchased some liters of kerosene which I supposed was mixed with petrol and other hazardous liquids by some malevolent human beings who are interested in selling quantity other than quality.
After she filled the old metal kerosene stove with what she thought was kerosene, she lit the stove with a match stick and within a twinkle of n eye, there was fire everywhere which burnt down the small bungalow with everything in it to dust and ashes.
When the inferno started, her (the girl that lit the stove), the only son of the family(a graduate who just concluded his youth service sometime in October last year)and their father saw what was happening, quickly raised an alarm while running for safety.
Meanwhile, their mother, two of her daughters and two other little kids were all in the sitting room not knowing what was happening.
Meanwhile, their mother, two of her daughters and two other little kids were all in the sitting room not knowing what was happening.
When their neighbours noticed the fire outbreak, the ran to the scene to rescue those in the building. However, the only son who couldn't bear the sight of seeing his mother and his siblings being burnt in the fire, ran into the fire to rescue them but he was very unlucky as the fire burnt him to death even before people could rescue him. The woman together with her children were rescued but they were badly burnt by the fire. Right now they are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Owerri, while the survivors are taking refuge in a parish rectory.
Going beyond this tragic loss, one could ask "Why did God allow such an event to befall this family?"; "Why did He allow the only son of the family to perish in the inferno?", and many other questions. Anyway in all things we should give thanks to God for He alone knows why it happened.
The event has occurred and there is nothing we can do as humans to reverse the hands of the clock. I am not writing to canvass for financial support for the family, but I'm writing to urge well meaningful Nigerians to support this family in anyway you can. Your healing prayers will be very much accepted by them, but if you feel touched to help them you can identify with them at FMC, Owerri or you can identify with the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters at Madonna Primary School Owerri.
"WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES, WHO ARE WE TO BLAME?".
May God grant the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss-AMEN!
Aniebo Anthony.
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