𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐃𝐘: 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐙𝐄𝐒 𝐁𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐄𝐊𝐄𝐓, 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒

𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐃𝐘: 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐙𝐄𝐒 𝐁𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐄𝐊𝐄𝐓, 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒.

Joseph Ekong

Tragedy struck on 1st October, 2024, as a devastating fire outbreak gutted two bungalows and damaged parts of a third flat in the affected buildings leaving families including 2 tenants homeless at, no. 33 Inam Street off Edohoeket, Eket Local Government.

According to a family member Mr. Uwakmfon Moses, the inferno which occurred about 8:00pm is attributed to a high-voltage power supply from Power Holding (NEPA)

“I was returning home and only to meet the sad situation of the razing fire. The neighbouring houses are affected with the high-voltage power supply, blowing chargers, bulbs and other items at home”, Mr Moses lamented.

Another eyewitnesses reported that, “we noticed flames engulfing the building. When we came close the entire place was burning. The high-voltage also destroyed things in our shop”.

Residents and neighbours who battled to extinguish the fire lamented frustration and the malfunctioning of the Fire Service station in Eket.

“We have turned to Fire Service just to quench the fire from affecting the third building. The other two buildings are gone, totally destroyed”.

Deaconess Mrs. Glory Akpan Okon Moses, wife of the buildings’ owner struggling to come to terms with their loss, wailed over the situation and her husband’s return to see the ruins.

The Press learnt that one of the tenants Mrs. Best Bright, who is working on her own building and to relocate lost all her properties.

Another tenant with two kids were came out safe. No life lost, no casualties.

In a show of solidarity, the PDP Chairmanship Candidate, Mr. Akaniyene Tommey, visited the victims to commiserate over the sad situation.

He was accompanied by the Chapter Chairman of PDP, Hon. Uso Hanson, Mr. Etukudo Ndueso, Barr. Richard Iyaha, Hon. Kingsley Tommey, Councillorship candidate, Lady Mercy Ekpe.