A man, Monima George, was killed at the weekend in a fire at the home of the 105-year-old monarch of Rumuwoji community, Port Harcourt, John Dike. The late George was 61.
Men of the State Fire Service ran out of water but firemen from the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) put out the fire.
Commissioner for Special Duties Dickson Omunakwe was on the scene coordinating efforts to put out the fire and rescue residents.
It was learnt that a nearby warehouse near the building was razed.
A trader, who rented the warehouse, travelled last week to buy goods for his shop.
Most of the items, particularly provisions, were stored in the warehouse.
It was gathered that the late George had been ill for some months and could not escape when the fire started.
The monarch was hurriedly moved out of the house to an undisclosed place.
Though the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, some errant youth leaders of Rumuwoji, who threatened the king at a peace meeting, were suspected to have been behind it.
Police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam said: “ Serious investigation is ongoing.”