Victims of a fire outbreak in Lambatta, Gurara LGA of Niger State, are counting their loses over Sunday’s fire incident in the area.
No fewer than 49 shops, four houses and two motorcycles were said to have been destroyed in the fire incident.
Witnesses said the tanker driver, who was coming from Suleja, lost control and rammed into the trailer.
One of those affected, Julian Aluko, a widow with six children, said she lost all her goods and wondered how she would cope with her children. “My husband is dead, and it is from the shop that I train my children,” she said.
Another trader, Friday Amaechi, whose four shops were completely razed down said, “My four shops that I have laboured to set up for years have all gone. I am owing many people because I collected the goods on credit,” he said.
Chairman of Gurara LGC, Yusuf Wali blamed the incident on “recklessness by tanker drivers who also parked their vehicles indiscriminately.”
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), led by the Director General, Ahmed Inga and the National Emergency Management Agency have assessed the damage done by the fire.
Inga said: “The governor has directed that we carry out assessment of the situation, and that is what we have done. No life was lost, but two trucks, two motorcycles, 49 shops and four residential apartments with 16 rooms have been burnt down.
“It is really unfortunate what has happened, but we believe the state government will come to their aid. In the meantime, I urge the victims to remain calm.”
This is not the first such incident at Lambata. In 2004 three persons were killed following a tanker explosion.
The state government recently warned the drivers against indiscriminate parking of their vehicles but not much has been done in enforcing the directive.
The member representing Gurara at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Binta Mamman, who visited the scene, said a fire station would be built in the area.
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