Fire destroys property, goods worth millions in Bayelsa

An early morning inferno has destroyed property and goods worth millions of naira at Amarata Community, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The fire incident, which happened around 2.30am on Saturday, was said to have started from a spark after a vehicle said to carry illegally refined crude exploded while trying to offload the product at a filling station located around the residential area.

Both victims and eyewitnesses told newsmen that the diesel that flowed from the vehicle burnt down part of the filling station and spilt into some buildings and shops in the area, burning down people’s property and goods.

A victim, Ebiomo Queen, who runs a mini-supermarket in the area, said goods and money inside her shop worth about N20 million were burnt down by the fire after close of business last night.

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Another victim, Mr Theophilus Joseph Otti, said the security personnel from the nearby Kimiowei filling station raised the alarm, and when he woke up, the fire was already raging.

Another victim, Chinyere Eze, whose house and property were destroyed by the inferno, said he couldn’t remove anything, as they were trying to save lives rather than property.

Police spokesman in Bayelsa State, ASP Musa Muhammed, confirmed the fire incident.