Many residents of busy Iwuokpom fishing community in Mkpanak, Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom State looked helpless as early morning fire incident ravaged their property.
Others shouted for help while the rest sobbed ceaselessly as the unwelcome visitor sent them packing and consumed property estimated at millions of naira.
Properties such as generator, deep freezers, motor-cycles among other household items including the building were razed.
Straightnews gathered that the fire which started at 2.50 a.m was caused by the gas cylinder of a forgetful tenant living in the compound near Chief Eddyang by Jacob Street in Mkpanak.
An eye witness account told the online newspaper that a tenant of one Madam Mayen Asuquo Okon returned late from her crayfish business.
“As the crayfish dealer was preparing dinner, she slept off. Everything in the pot burnt and the gas cooker exploded. This sparked fire and the inferno raced into the ceilings. A huge ball of fire engulfed the 15-room apartment in the compound and razed it, forcing the woman and other residents to flee for safety.
“Armed with buckets of water, the residents, neighbours and some youths of the street battled the inferno and put it off at 04.10 a.m,” he said.
Narrating their ordeals, some victims bemoaned that the incident has reduced their economic status to the barest.
Speaking to our reporter in the area, Mr Udeme Francis Tom from Nsit Ibom and one of the tenants seen wearing a pair of boxers lamented that he had lost his business money to the fire.
Another victim, Mr Godwin UtomAbasi from Esit Eket who is a commercial motorcyclist, said he had lost all his household items.
Also, Mr Michael Okon Edet from Ebughu in Mbo who lamented that he lost fridge, freezer, among house hold items in the incident.
They, therefore, appealed to Ibeno local government and NGOs and public-spirited persons to come to their aid.
The landlady, Madam Mayen Okon, recalled that one of the tenants who cooked late and then slept off, contributed to the disaster because her gas cylinder exploded and wrecked the compound.
However, distraught Madam Okon thanked God that no life was lost, but appealed Ibeno local government council and philanthropic organisations to assist her to rebuild and to provide other forms of assistance to the distressed tenants.
Attempts to reach Ibeno fire station were unsuccessful as their two lines- 0810 985 5087 & 0708 966 8330- could not go.
Efforts to reach the Ibeno local government chairman, Mr. Ifum Henry Udoh to speak on the incident proved abortive as he did not respond to Straightnews numerous inquiries.
Reports by Emmanuel Bassey
