Over ten shops were entirely toppled down by fire in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The experience transpired at Ogbojo-Akakpa in Ogoja,
Federal Science College, Ogoja on Saturday.

It was compiled that ten shops were completely burnt down while the people stared helplessly.

Although, the reason for the fire is yet to be explained it only took the efforts of the people in the absence of the Fire Service, to use mai ruwa (water carriage) to regulate the fire from consuming other shops and houses.

A witness who gave his name as Raymond Obi said, “The people watched helplessly as the fire burnt down their building harboring the shops.

“Although nobody knew what caused the fire that escalated wildly, many people tried to pick up some few things as no life was lost,” he said.

He recalled that several incidences of fire outbreak have occurred in Ogoja – leading to loss of properties worth several millions of Naira in recent times, Obi said but question the whereabouts of the fire service people in the area.

One of the shop owners, a radio/television technician, refused to mention his name reviewed the incident thus, “I went across to buy some food to eat and when I came back I saw people gathering in front of my shop.

“I saw the fire burning everywhere. I couldn’t pick even a needle aside from the TV sets that I left outside,” he lamented.

When reached, the Public Relations Officer of Cross River State Fire Service, Comrade Cletus said he was not in town.

“I am currently not in town. I am in Akure for an official assignment. But, I’ll direct you to the person in charge of Ogoja station, he’ll know better”, Makers said.

Following this , when journalists tried to reach out to the Fire Service man in charge of Ogoja Station, Comrade Solomon Atambi, as directed by the PRO efforts substantiated abortive as his phone number was not connecting.

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