According to Vanguard, five
buildings on Asuquo Abasi Street, Calabar, Cross Rivers State were, yesterday,
razed by fire, destroying property worth millions of naira.
An eyewitness, Mrs. Grace
Bisong, told Vanguard that they noticed smoke from the building when power was
restored to the area.
She said: “It was when the
fire grew that we discovered it was coming from Ette’s house. But it was
already too late, so we started making calls because no one was in the compound
when it started.
“No one had the fire
service number. It was one University of Calabar, UNICAL, student that called
the father, who then alerted Quick Intervention Squad, QIS.
“We still thank God that
nobody died although nothing was brought out of the building where the inferno
started from. The timely intervention of QIS helped the other people living in
other affected houses to bring out some of their property.”
One of the victims and a
student of UNICAL, Miss Veronica Ndifon, told Vanguard that it was by God’s
grace that they brought out their things.
She said: “We thank God the QIS came in record time. It
would have been worse than what you are seeing now.”
Meanwhile, owner of the
house where the fire started, Ette Fidelis, was still in shock when our
reporter visited the scene as neighbours were trying to console him for his
loss.
A tenant in one of the
ravaged houses, Mrs. Ngozi Ibeamalu,
appealed to the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, to come to their aid
as they no longer had a place to lay their head.
She said: “I have three
children, including my husband. As I speak, I have not been able to get him on
the phone.
“He does not even know what
is happening because I am just coming back from bush market, only to discover
that our house is gone. Please government should come and help us.
“Two of my children went
for holiday in my parents place, while this one I am carrying is the last.
“I am just confused right
now. I am happy that they travelled. Otherwise only God knows what would have
happened.”
The fire was, however,
brought under control by men from Quick Intervention Squad.
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