A fire outbreak destroys major sections of the Wukari Local Government Secretariat in Taraba State, halting administrative activities and causing massive property losses estimated at billions of naira.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the Chairman of Wukari Local Government Area, Bala Useni, confirms that the fire breaks out shortly after he leaves the office for an official assignment. He says a security operative from the Taraba State Security Marshal alerts him to the incident.
Initial efforts to contain the fire fail, as the Federal University Wukari Fire Service is unable to operate effectively due to the absence of water. This allows the inferno to spread rapidly across several administrative blocks.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the fire is eventually brought under control through the combined efforts of council staff and concerned residents who mobilise to prevent further damage.
The chairman explains that most of the secretariat’s administrative buildings are badly affected, with only a section of the chairman’s office spared by the flames. He notes that vital records, office equipment, and working facilities are among items destroyed.
Useni states that the cause of the fire remains unknown, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the outbreak. He assures residents that findings will be made public once concluded.
The incident, he says, has severely disrupted council operations and affected service delivery to residents of the local government area. Officials are currently making temporary arrangements to ensure essential services continue.
He further discloses that a committee will be set up to assess the extent of the damage and recommend steps for recovery and reconstruction of the affected facilities.
No casualty is recorded in the incident, as workers and visitors reportedly vacate the premises before the fire spreads.
