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.
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