By Harris-Okon Emmanuel
UYO—Two children, weekend, were reportedly roasted to death with several others sustaining sever burns as fire razed Mkpang Utong, a fishing community in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Although the cause of the fire could not be ascertained at press time, the Chairman of Ibaka Development Organisation, IDO, Chief Ukutudo, lamented that lives and properties worth several millions of naira have been destroyed.
He said: “The fire incident destroyed many houses, outboard engines, fishing boats and other properties worth millions of naira were also lost to the inferno.
“We appeal to the state government and other emergency response agencies to come to the aid of thousands of the mostly fishermen and farmers displaced by the inferno.”
Chairman of Mbo Local Government Area, Asukwo Eyo, lamented that “the fire incident has brought untold hardship to our people and we call on non-governmental organisations and other emergency response agen-cies to assist the displaced people of Mkpang Utong.
“We also solicit the cooperation and assistance of the government, Federal and state emergency response organisations and public-spirited individuals to donate relief materials to cushion the sufferings of the victims.”
Meanwhile, Governor Udom Emmanuel, who visited the affected community, has consoled victims and prayed for the families of the dead children.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, himself from the Mbo Local Government, pledged to rehabilitate the victims.
“What I have seen here is complete devastation. My people have lost their source of livelihoods and would have to start their lives from the scratch,” he said, assuring that government will provide the needed succour.
Governor Emmanuel, who donated some cash to the victims, advised them to always take precautionary measures to guard against such accident and other emergencies.
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