She was a boisterous young girl who at age eight had exhibited enviable leadership traits. Ifunaya, as she was simply called, was a promising lad by all standards, and she epitomized excellence. But cruel fate dealt her a fatal blow which shattered and abruptly dimmed her shining star.
A candle light used by one of her brothers who was reading at night in preparation for a Common Entrance Examination for enrolment into secondary school ignited a ferocious fire in their home at Umunnaugwu Quarters of Ugwuaji community, Enugu South Local Government Area in Enugu State. She was consumed by the inferno which reportedly started at about 8.30pm on Wednesday, February 2.
When the smoke eventually cleared after men of the state Fire Service successfully battled the inferno to a halt, Ifunaya had journeyed to the world beyond and only her charred remains were recovered. Gone with her were her lofty dreams, and her charm.
She was sleeping inside one of the three rooms caught by the fire in a bungalow of 10 rooms. Sadly, while other children who were with her scampered out to safety, Ifunaya was unlucky as she was deeply asleep when the incident occurred.
Her grandfather, Mr. Lazarus Anya-Anike, recounts: “My grand-daughter, Ifunanya who lost her life in the incident, was inside the room sleeping while other children fled when the fire started and they shouted for help as it was beyond their control. The Fire Service men’s intervention helped to stop the fire razing the entire building”.
Anya-Anike appealed to the Enugu State government and public-spirited individuals to come to his family’s aid as the fire had destroyed their belongings.
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