A devastating fire sparked by a candle has destroyed a family home in Agbama Housing Estate, Umuahia, rendering Mr. and Mrs. Godwin Nwosu and their four children homeless.

The blaze erupted while the children were using the candle to study before falling asleep. The parents were away from the house at the time, and neighbors reportedly alerted authorities after spotting the flames.

Speaking through tears, Mrs. Nwosu explained that she had purchased the candle to prepare for her upcoming National Certificate in Education (NCE) examinations amid prolonged power outages in the area. “The children lit it to read their books and slept off,” she said, adding that the family rarely used candles.

Mr. Godwin Nwosu, a tricycle operator in Umuahia, described the total loss: “The fire razed the entire house. We lost everything we labored for throughout 2025 – nothing was salvaged, only ashes remain.” He emphasized that he and his wife were not home when the incident occurred.

The couple expressed profound gratitude that their four children escaped unharmed, attributing their survival to divine intervention. They have appealed to the public, government, and kind-hearted individuals in Abia State for assistance with temporary accommodation and financial support to rebuild their lives.