Shop owners in Atimbo, a suburb of Calabar, Cross River State capital, have been left devastated after a midnight fire gutted six shops around 12 a.m. on Friday, destroying wares worth millions of naira.
The affected businesses included a laundry, a local DSTV subscription office, a pharmacy, a barbing salon, a tailoring shop, and an eatery. Despite prompt response from residents who attempted to extinguish the flames, their efforts proved futile as the fire had already consumed most of the properties.
Eyewitnesses reported that the presence of burglary proofs on the shops significantly hampered rescue efforts, preventing access to salvage goods from the burning structures.
Electrical Fault Suspected
While the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, residents strongly suspect electrical sparks resulting from frequent power outages and fluctuations experienced throughout the day.
Madam Nkoyo Effiom, a landlady in the area, confirmed this suspicion, stating, "I think it is the fluctuations and frequent power cuts during the day that must have caused the fire." She expressed sympathy for the shop owners, whom she described as good neighbours.
Chike Obike, a resident who witnessed the incident, provided further details: "At about past 12 a.m., the light came back, and we saw sparks around where the shops are. We started noticing smoke coming from one of the shops — the laundry shop."
"We took turns to put out the fire and help the shop owners get some of their properties out," Obike added, noting that the burglary proofs prevented them from accessing the shops to rescue items.
Fire Service Concerns
Another resident, Emmanuel Ugo, highlighted concerns about the state's emergency response capabilities, claiming there was no point contacting the Fire Service as they allegedly lack vehicles, firefighting hydrants, equipment, and even fuel to power their vehicles.
Attempts to reach the State Police Command Deputy PRO, Igri Ewa, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
The incident has once again raised concerns about electrical safety and emergency response preparedness in Calabar, as affected shop owners now face the difficult task of rebuilding their livelihoods from scratch.
