Fire Destroys Property Worth Millions in Cross River Community

Fire Destroys Property Worth Millions in Cross River Community
Residents Blame Power Surge, Call for Better Fire Services
Eyewitnesses said the blaze was eventually contained through the efforts of youths and women in the community

A fire outbreak has destroyed property worth millions of naira in Okuku, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, leaving residents counting their losses.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the incident, which occurred late Thursday night, reportedly started from a bungalow before spreading to nearby buildings.

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Eyewitnesses said the blaze was eventually contained through the efforts of youths and women in the community, who helped salvage some belongings from the affected homes.

Benjamin Ogar, one of the residents who spoke on the incident, attributed the fire to a power surge from the public electricity supply. He lamented the extent of the damage, noting that a large portion of the main building was destroyed.

He also raised concerns about the state of fire service response in the area, saying the local fire station had little or no equipment when residents rushed there for help.

Fire Destroys Property Worth Millions in Cross River Community

Another eyewitness, Nsikak Abang, urged the state government to urgently upgrade fire service facilities across the three senatorial districts, warning that the poor condition of fire stations poses a serious risk to lives and property.

According to him, fire stations in other parts of the state, including Calabar and Ogoja, are also in similar condition and need urgent attention.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Cross River State Fire Service, Mr Emmanuel Ajom, confirmed that the service’s fire trucks are currently undergoing maintenance.

The incident has once again raised concerns about emergency response readiness and the need for better-equipped fire services across the state.