Property valued at millions of naira has been destroyed following a fire outbreak in Okuku, located in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, on Thursday night.
The fire reportedly began in a bungalow and quickly spread to nearby buildings before it could be contained. Efforts to control the blaze were delayed, allowing it to engulf multiple structures.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), residents particularly youths and women in the community played a key role in rescuing some belongings from the affected homes.
An eyewitness, Benjamin Ogar, linked the incident to a power surge from the public electricity supply.
“This fire was caused by electric power surge, and I can tell you that a lot was lost in the main building affected by the inferno
“This type of large-scale destruction can be avoided if there is an effective fire service department.
“As soon as the fire started, we rushed to the fire station but discovered that they have nothing to work with,” he said.
Another resident, Nsikak Abang, called on the government to upgrade fire service infrastructure across the state’s three senatorial districts. He warned that the poor condition of fire stations poses a serious risk to both lives and property.
“I am aware that the situation is the same in Calabar and Ogoja, something has to be done quickly.
“If the government is serious about public safety, it should equip fire service stations because emergencies don’t ring bells,” he pleaded.
When contacted, the Director of the Cross River State Fire Service, Emmanuel Ajom, confirmed that the agency’s fire trucks are currently undergoing maintenance, which may have affected response efforts.
