Ebonyi Fire Razes Abakaliki Building As Fire Service Delays

An Abakaliki fire outbreak destroyed a one-storey building, nearly killing twins, as Ebonyi fire service arrived hours late.

Damaged one-storey building after Abakaliki fire outbreak in Ebonyi State

A terrifying fire incident has destroyed a one-storey building in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State. The disaster happened on Saturday evening, leaving residents in shock.

The building is located opposite Geneza Hotel along the busy Onwe Road. The inferno started around 6:45 p.m. and raged for over an hour before it was finally put out at about 7:50 p.m.

The incident caused massive traffic gridlock on the road. Passersby and residents had to scamper for their safety as the flames grew stronger.

The fire wiped out the entire building and all the valuables inside. It also nearly claimed the lives of 13-month-old twins. Their mother had only stepped out briefly to buy some items at a nearby market.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, hinted at a possible cause. The fire started just 15 minutes after the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company restored power to the area.

People in the neighborhood heard a loud, explosive sound from the building right before the fire erupted. This caused serious panic. Occupants of nearby buildings quickly moved their vehicles and belongings out of harm's way.

Residents suspect the fire was triggered by either a filled gas cylinder or an electrical appliance left on before the power was restored.

However, the most disturbing part of the story is the response time of the fire service. When a correspondent visited the scene at 7:58 p.m., the fire was still burning. There were no firefighters or fire trucks in sight.

Frustrated residents revealed they contacted the Ebonyi State Fire Service. Shockingly, they were told the officials did not have fuel to dispatch a truck.

Another resident, Olem Mike, who is a commercial motorcyclist, confirmed this painful delay. He noted that the fire started on the upper floor before spreading downwards.

Mike added that at different times, the fire service claimed they do not work on Saturdays and later repeated that they had no fuel. He described the situation as bad for society.

If not for the quick intervention of the management of Geneza Hotel, the damage would have been much worse. The hotel staff brought out their fire extinguishers and opened their water reservoir. This brave effort stopped the fire from spreading to neighboring compounds.

The delayed firefighters eventually arrived at the scene at about 8:47 p.m. This was more than two hours after the fire started.

They came accompanied by two police Hilux vans. There were fears that angry residents might attack the firefighters because of their late response.