Fire Roasts Two Children to Death, Destroys Billion Worth of Properties in Akwa Ibom

Two children have been burnt to death while many others who escaped the disaster sustained varying degrees of burns as fire destroyed Mkpang Utong, a fishing community in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State at the weekend.

In the inferno which the cause could not be ascertained, houses, outboard engines, fishing boats and other properties worth millions of naira were also destroyed.

The Chairman of Ibaka Development Organisation (IDO), Chief Ukutudo, who visited the scene of the fire outbreak called on the state government and other emergency response agencies to come to the aid of thousands of those affected, mostly fishermen and farmers, who were displaced.

Also, the Chairman of Mbo Local Government Area, Hon. Asukwo Eyo, lamented that the fire incident has brought untold hardship on the riverine settlers, calling on government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other emergency response agencies to assist the displaced people of Mkpang Utong.

He particularly solicited the cooperation and assistance of the government, federal and state emergency response agencies and public spirited individuals “to donate relief materials to cushion the sufferings of the victims.”

The state Governor, Udom Emmanuel, who visited the affected community, has consoled the victims and prayed for the families of the dead children.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, also from the council area, pledged to rehabilitate the victims.

He said: “What I have seen here is complete devastation. My people have lost their source of livelihoods and would have to start their lives from the scratch,” he noted, assuring them that the government would provide the needed succour.

The governor, who donated some cash to the victims, advised them to always take precautionary measures to guard against such accident and other emergencies.