From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Over N10 million worth of property were razed yesterday, at the Diocesan Cathedral, Methodist Church Nigeria, Uzuakoli Diocese, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.
The fire, it was gathered, started at about 2am, at Dodd’s Memorial Cathedral, Uzuakoli, after the end of a vigil by some congregants.
A witness said the inferno destroyed property of the Church and important documents kept inside the Bishop’s office and another adjoining office.
Speaking on the incident, the Bishop of Uzuakoli Methodist Diocese, Rt. Rev. (Dr) Anyanwu James Alozie, lamented the big loss his diocese suffered in the inferno.
The bishop, who conducted journalists round the burnt building, noted that the fire started at about 2am as a result of power surge, which occurred at his office, after power was restored in the area.
Bishop Alozie noted that different electronic appliances and various land documents, as well as church registers were burnt to ashes. He added that gold plates and cups used for Holy Communion and other valuables worth about N10 million also went up in flames.
“Everything in my office is completely burnt. Electronics, important documents, files and registers were all burnt. It was the efforts of church members and people from this community that stopped the fire from spreading to the altar and into the entire church hall,” the bishop said.
Bishop Alozie, who thanked God that no life was lost during the fire outbreak, thanked members of his church and natives of Uzuakoli for bringing the inferno under control. He appealed to Abia State government, corporate organisations and notable individuals to assist his church in replacing the destroyed property.