@Somkelechi Chibueze
@Ota Udeh
The Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA) has commenced efforts to support victims of an inferno that displaced 12 households and destroyed homes in Calabar Municipality.
The agency carried out a comprehensive damage and needs assessment, led by its Director General, Efa Nyong, shortly after receiving a distress report of the midnight inferno at No. 174 Etagbor Layout, Block B, Ward 2.
The fire reportedly razed 11 residential rooms and a commercial shop, while partially affecting a church building within the compound. Household items, valuable documents and other personal belongings estimated to be worth several million naira were destroyed in the blaze.
Addressing the affected families during the assessment, Nyong sympathised with the victims and assured them that the Cross River State Government, under the leadership of Governor Bassey Otu, shares in their pain and is committed to providing the necessary support.
“I want to, in my deepest heart, bring you a message directly from the Governor, through me, to say sorry once again,” he said.
“So just as we have come here swift, actions will be taken. I’ll take the message back to him directly. And you’ll get a positive response, I can assure you, 100%,” Nyong added.
He explained that the assessment was aimed at accurately documenting the extent of the damage and generating credible data to guide government intervention, as well as support from humanitarian partners.
“The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that the needs of the affected families are properly captured to facilitate timely assistance,” he said.
Nyong, however, urged the victims to remain hopeful, assuring them that the agency was already engaging relevant stakeholders to mobilise relief materials.
Recounting the incident, some residents said the fire was first noticed after children in the compound raised the alarm.
“When I came, I saw my children, my neighbors have struggled them out from my room. The process of even trying to go in to see if I can remove any of my material, even the credentials, I couldn’t,” one of the victims recalled.
“There is no way you can. The first thing that will come to your mind is to rescue your life. The only thing we are able to bring are these two children,” the victim added.
The exact cause of the fire had yet to be established, as of the time of the assessment.
The affected residents appealed to the government to intervene by providing relief materials and temporary shelter.
“So, please, we are outside here to plead the government for help. Because right now, all of us, we are outside. We just came out naked. There was no new shoes to even wear,” one of the residents said.
“we are pleading for assistance. We are pleading for help In any way that they can assist us to hide our head again for this weather,” the resident added.
