It was a sad end the year on Saturday for residence of house No 21 Upper Uwa street, Benin City when a mysterious fire gutted the building destroying properties worth millions of naira.
The building owned by one Pa. Akhionbare housed about 28 shops and several residential apartments.
Many of the residents and shop owners had traveled for the yuletide celebration.
Witnesses said those at the shops when the fire started at about 5:30pm thought the fire would not spread and they did not pack their goods for fear of thefts by hoodlums.
They watched as the fire gradually spread to their shops.
The entire building was eventually burnt while men of the Edo State Fire Services prevented the fire from spreading to other buildings.
One of the victims who gave his name as Papa Nnaemeka said he repairs electrical devices at the building and that everything was destroyed.
Eyewitnesses said the fire was caused by a power surge and speedily spread to other parts of the building.