Two tragic fire incidents have claimed the lives of two persons as well as destroyed 32 motorcycles and 649 shops in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Apostle James Anam, Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, who undertook a tour of the affected areas said the fire incident at Ikom Central Market affected over five lines (Togo, Gombe, Lagos, Italian, and Onitsha lines), containing 120 shops in each line numbering a total of 620 shops in all.
“Generally, the livelihood of the affected market traders are seriously in jeopardy as the incident destroyed shops and goods worth millions of naira and cash was also burnt,” Anam told Vanguard.
At another fire disaster site, the SEMA DG said a burnt fuel tanker on Calabar Road by County Specialist Hospital, 4 Corners, Ikom, “took two lives and damaged 32 motorcycles, and burnt over 32 motorcycles and 29 shops located along the road side.”
The SEMA DG said the magnitude of the two disasters require the collaborative efforts of government agencies, goodwill individual, welfare organisations and community stakeholders to alleviate the damage and assist the victims to meet their immediate needs and also set them on their feet.
During the assessment, Pastor Moris Ewonkom, Ikom Market Leader, his executives and representative from the council, Mr. Ajom David, appealed for assistance from the Federal Government to cushion the effect of the disaster.
