The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fire

  • Ramaphosa, Tinubu mourn Joburg fire victims

    Ramaphosa, Tinubu mourn Joburg fire victims

    • No Nigerian affected as death toll hits 70

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and yesterday sent their condolences to the families of more than 70 people who were killed in a building fire in Johannesburg.

    Ramaphosa, at an event in the southern city of Gqeberha, said: “This is a great tragedy, felt by families whose loved ones perished in this terrible manner and our hearts go out to every person who is affected by this disaster,”

    Tinubu also expressed his deepest condolences to the government and people of South Africa, following the tragic fire incident.

    The President’s condolence message was contained in a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

    Read Also: ECOWAS denies approving transition proposal for Niger

    “In this moment of tragedy, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families affected by this devastating fire incident. The extent of this loss is truly profound, and during this challenging time, please be assured that Nigeria stands in unity with you,” the President said, while praying for a speedy recovery for the wounded.

    Reiterating the strong bond shared between Nigeria and South Africa, President Tinubu expressed hope that the collective strength of the South African people, relevant government agencies and the unwavering spirit of Africa will positively impact the healing and rehabilitation of all those affected.No fewer than 70 people have died and more than 50 have been injured in the fire incident.

    The five-storey building in the city centre has been described as “hijacked”, meaning it is used by squatters.

    No Nigerian was affected in the fire incident. Confirming the incident to The Nation, the President of Nigerian Citizens Association, South Africa, NICASA, Benjamin Okoli, said it was a massive fire but no Nigerian was involved in the unfortunate incident.

    He said, “No Nigerian was affected in the incident. No Nigerian lives there. No single African migrants besides South Africans that leaves there. “

      The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained at the time of filing this report. Emergency services told the BBC that the fire gutted the building at about 01:30 (00:30 BST) yesterday.

    Authorities said firefighters evacuated the building’s occupants on arrival, and the search and recovery of bodies is continuing.

    Reports suggest the occupants were mostly African migrants. Among those killed were seven children, including a one-year-old baby, South Africa’s Times Live news site quotes Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi as saying.

    He added 52 people were being treated for injuries.

    “Firefighter crews are damping down. EMS will conduct preliminary investigations to determine what caused the fire after firefighting operations are done,” Mulaudzi said.

  • Fire razes storey building in Anambra

    Fire razes storey building in Anambra

    Properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed by fire in a residential duplex in Obiofia Nnewi Ichi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The fire which occurred around 7pm on Thursday was reportedly caused by electric spark from power surge.

    According to state fire chief, Martin Agbili, no life was lost in the inferno, but the buildings were seriously affected by the inferno.

    He said,: “At about 1902hrs (7.02pm) of Thursday 24-08-2023, Anambra State Fire Service, received a distress call of fire outbreak at Obiofia Nnewi Ichi, Nnewi North Local Government Area

    “Immediately, our fire truck and diligent firefighters were deployed to the fire scene to fight, extingush and control the fire.

    Read Also: Anambra adopts zero right of way for broadband deployment

    “The cause of the fire outbreak was as a result electric spark from power surge.

    “The building was seriously affected by the fire but no life was lost during the fire fighting. A lot were saved as all surrounding buildings were saved from the effect of fire spread.

    “Our firefighters left the fire incident scene at about 2130hrs (9.30pm).”

  • Fire razes building in Aba

    Residents of No. 37 Immaculate off Aba-Owerri road have been thrown into mourning as fire, suspected to have started from an electric cooker, engulfed their building.

    According to reports, property worth several thousands of naira was destroyed in the fire.

    Sources from the Abia State Fire Service said the fire was prevented from spreading to two adjoining buildings.

    According to the source, it was suspected that the fire emanated from one of the rooms as the owner forgot to unplug an electric stove before a power outage.

    According to him, the situation became worse as the block, mainly occupied by students, went into flame as gas cylinders in various rooms exploded due to the heat.

    He added that they were alerted by a caller in Umuahia, and that their timely intervention prevented the fire from escalating beyond human reach.

    He said: “We got a call from a good Samaritan in Umuahia about the fire. We quickly went to the area and though we met initial resistance from people who wanted to attack us, but we eventually went in and attacked the fire.

    “We prevented the fire from spreading to other buildings and later went room by room to damp the fire. Occupants of the building said someone left an electric cooker on which caused the fire when power was restored.”

  • Fire guts five oil wells in Ondo riverine community

    Five oil wells were  yesterday gutted by fire through an explosion in Ajegunle-Ikorigho in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    The oil wells affected by the fire incident include Isan West field, Parable Field, Malu Field, Ororo  Field and Opokaba Field.

    Sources said the fire incident, which lasted for about two hours, destroyed many facilities.

    The fire, it was learnt, broke out in Ajegunle community and spread to Ojumole, a community located within Ikorigho land, where the oil wells are sited. It also affected Otumara, Iluayo, Ayeren and Kendo communities – all fall within Ikorigho land.

    However, the cause of the explosion could not be ascertained as at yesterday, and it was not certain whether there was any casualty.

    Men of the State Fire Services were drafted to the scene of the fire incident.

    But, two community leaders in Ikhorigo, Chief William Ayerin and Rev. Judah Akinyomi lamented that the inferno had been raging for almost one week.

    They urged the federal, state and National Emergency Management Board (NEMA) to rescue residents of the community.

    The leaders also pleaded with the Federal Government to direct Chevron to provide safety measures for its operation in the community.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Ondo State Command, Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police(SP), could not be reached for comment.

     

  • Fire razes building in Kano

    The Kano State Fire Service yesterday said fire had razed the last floor of a three-storey building at Sabon Gari in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano.

    Spokesman of the service, Alhaji Saidu Mohammed, who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the fire started at about 02:11 p.m. at No 83 Sarkin Yaki, Sabon Gari, Kano.

    “We received a distress call from Sabon Gari Market Division this afternoon (Saturday) from one Mr. Emeka at about 02:11 p.m. that there was a fire outbreak at a dwelling house.

    “Upon receiving the information, we quickly sent a fire vehicle to the scene at about 02:18 p.m., to bring the situation under control,’’ he said.

    He said the inferno affected three bedrooms and two kitchens in the residential building.

    In another development, the fire service spokesman said that another fire occurred around 12:52 p.m. at Rimin Kebe Gadar Katako in Nasarawa Local Government Area.

    “Out of the four rooms, only one room was slightly burnt with the quick intervention of the firemen,” Mohammed said.

    He added that the cause of the fire was still being investigated.

  • Updated: Fire razes Katsina varsity

    A wild fire on Tuesday razed some offices of the Katsina State owned Umar Musa Yar’Adua University.

    It destroyed sections of some buildings at the Faculty of Education, the office of Head of Library and Information Science Department, the examination office and some lecturers’ rooms.

    The cause of the fire outbreak is still unknown but some onlookers said it might be due to an electrical fault.

    Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, who visited the institution afterwards in the company of Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu and Special Adviser on Higher Education, Alhaji Bashir Ruwan Godiya, directed that a committee be set up to investigate the cause of the fire.

    He promised to repay damages caused by the inferno.

    Meanwhile, Masari also urged Katsina indigenes residents in Lagos to seek admission for their children in tertiary institutions in the state.

    Read Also: Katsina, Kaduna, Rivers, Imo APC adopt indirect method to pick candidates

    He spoke when he received the president of Association of Indigenes of Katsina Residents in Lagos, Alhaji Sanusi Abubakar Faskari, who led other officials of the Association to congratulate the governor on his re-election.

    He explained that encouraging Katsina children to study in their home state, would reduce the cost their parents incur in sponsoring their education outside the state.

    He further noted that the move would also enable the children to familiarize themselves with the roots of their ancestral homes.

    He said “My advice was born out of experience with one of such children. An indigene of Katsina was recently offered a permanent and pensionable job at science and technical department but had to sneak back to Lagos for lack of familiarity with the Katsina terrain.”

    The governor told the delegation from Lagos that he used to receive briefings on their activities, adding that he was satisfied with the progress being made in that regard.

  • Ministry of Interior board promotes 18 Controllers of Prisons

    The Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) has approved the promotion of 18 Controllers of Prisons to the rank of Assistant Controller General (ACG) of Prisons.
    This is contained in the Board’s letter No. CDFIPB/ODES/CORR/VOL.11/21 dated March 27, 2019 in respect of the promotion exercise conducted by the Board for eligible officers in 2018.
    According to a statement on Friday in Abuja by the NPS spokesman, Francis Enobore, some of the beneficiaries include: “ACG Yusuf Kasali Oladipo, ACG Kunle Sanusi, ACG Tukur Mohammed Ahmed fsi, ACG Pevigo Igba Peter and ACG Abubakar Y. Garba fsi, mni.

    Read also: 2019 elections: ‘Prisons to pay officers allowance soon’

    “Others are ACG Nwakuche Sylvester mni, ACG Babangida Mohammed,  ACG Opara Joseph,  ACG Oladipo Olatunbosun Tunde and ACG Chiabua Chuks Victor fsi. Also affected are ACG Haliru Nababa, ACG Musa Danzaria, ACG Akinwale Folashade, ACG Mohammed Ibrahim Hussaini, ACG Okereke Clementina, ACG Bomoi Bello Mohammed, ACG Adebimpe Ojo Aderemi and ACG Mohammed Gombe Abubakar.”
    Controller General of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Ja’afaru Ahmed while congratulating the officers, enjoined them to see the elevation as a call to higher responsibility which requires greater commitment and professionalism.

  • Two hospitalised as fire ravages Lagos community

    A woman and a young boy were injured yesterday when fire swept through the Hausa community in Orile-Agege, Lagos.

    They are at the Agege General Hospital.

    The fire, said to have been caused by power surge, raged for several hours, destroying shops, houses and goods.

    It was gathered that the fire worsened when a high tension cable fell on a house where a cooking gas was on.

    Some residents alleged that fire fighters told them that they had no water when they were called.

    A woman, Iya Mariam, told The Nation that some properties would have been salvaged if the firefighters had responded in time.

    She said: “My mum grinds pepper at that compound where fire broke out. I came to visit my mum there. I woke up in the morning to get my child ready for school and the next thing, I heard people screaming that a room was on fire.

    “It later spread to other rooms. People called the firefighters, who said they did not have water.”

    Mrs. Sherifat Aderibigbe, a pepper grinder, blamed the firefighters for not doing their job well.

    Read also: Fire razes building in Kano

    A trader, Bolanle Babatunde, said he quickly evacuated his children.

    Imam Abdullahi said he was praying when the fire started, adding that he lost most of his goods.

    The President of Arewa United (Consultative Forum), Alhaji Shuaibu Ado, said the fire spread from room to room when the cable fell.

    “Although nobody died, we are pained now because we have lost belongings and money running into millions of naira.

    “We appeal to the government to assist the victims and provide alternative accommodation for them.”

    Seriki Hausa Alhaji Aminu said nobody died, adding: “I received a distress call early this morning that when electricity was restored, it sparked and affected a shop, resulting in fire.”

  • Fire razes 60 houses, destroys livestock, grains in Jigawa

    FIRE razed over 60 house and destroyed grains silos, livestock and domestic materials in Barebari village in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa.

    Reports from the state indicated that the mysterious fire started at about 11 a.m. till after 6pm of last Tuesday.

    Confirming the incident the executive secretary Jigawa State Emergency Relief Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Sani Yusuf Babura said “the cause of the fire, which lasted over seven hours is yet to be ascertained”.

    The executive secretary explained that “the inferno razed the whole village and destroyed almost all the grain silos and livestock of the village”.

    According to Babura “the situation is very sympathetic, as all the farm product produced in the last rainy season by the villager, livestock and other domestic items had been lost to the fire”.

    “The fire destroyed almost the whole of the village, including animals and foodstuff. Over 60 houses were razed by the fire. The fire began around 11 a.m. and lasted up to 6 p.m.

    “Though we are not concerned with the number of houses, animals or foodstuff destroyed, but how we can assist victims immediately is what we are discussing right now. We plan to provide them with relief materials, including shelter and feeding.

    “After that, that is when we will begin to ascertain the cause of the fire and the level of damages caused,” he said.

    The executive secretary added that the assistance would be provided in order to ease the hardship and suffering of the victims.

    He said that no one died in the incident but that investigation into the incident had commenced.

    “Fortunately, no loss of human life was recorded in the incident several livestock and foodstuff were destroyed by the fire,” Yusuf added.

  • Fire kills family of 6 in Kano

    Tragedy struck in the wee hours of yesterday at Bawo road, Hausawa quarters, in Tarauni local government area of Kano State, when fire  burnt a family of six to death.

    The fire outbreak killed one Isaiah Jonathan, his wife, his three children, including a new born baby and the younger sister of his wife. According to an eyewitness, the fire incident started from the sitting room and prevented the deceased and his family members from coming out of the house.

    Narrating further how the incident occurred, the eyewitness said they were woken up when they heard the deceased calling for help. “When we heard some noise at the early hours, we thought robbers have visited us. But when we came out, we saw that fire was burning a part of the house and it was difficult to put out. We saw them trying to pull out the burglary proof. They couldn’t find ladder to get to their rescue,” he said.

    Confirming the incident, the Kano State Police spokesman, DSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said “at about 0325hrs, control room called and inform patrol team that there was a fire incident at link 39, Bawo rd, Hausawa. All the family of one Mr. Jonathan, male, his wife, three children and their maid, all burnt to ashes. The fire was put out with the help of the men of Kano fire service.”