Fire guts buildings, properties worth millions of naira in Rivers community

A truck ladened with suspected adulterated fuel in the early hours of Wednesday reportedly gone up in flames at Mgbere Clan in the Ibaa community of Emohua Council of Rivers State.

It was gathered that the truck was stationed in the community and was about to leave, after it was loaded with petroleum products, when it went up in flames.

A source who spoke anonymously said the inferno razed 15 buildings and more than 20 shops were affected. Also, earlier in the week, on Monday, it was gathered that at Ohionu in the same Ibaa, a tanker loaded with petroleum product collided with a building.

It was learned that the tanker was trying to meander the rough roads of one of the bunkering sites when it ignited and caught up in flames, destroying buildings worth millions.

According to the source who disclosed that despite the massive destruction exercise embarked by the Council boss, bunkering activities go on in the area unhindered.

He said: “ We were woken up by the cries of victims whose houses were gutted by a fire from a parked truck used for Kpo-fire business.

“The truck was loaded with petroleum products and was about to go to dispatch its consignment when it went up in flames. More than 15 buildings were razed and many shops, more than 20 burnt down with goods in them. On Monday, a tanker exploded when it was trying to drive out and it hit a building and went in flames affecting the entire building nearby. For now nobody has been confirmed dead and I can not say for sure if anybody was burned.”

MEANWHILE, efforts to reach the Council Chairman, Chidi Lloyd, proved abortive, as calls and text messages were not replied to.

Also, the Rivers State Police Command is yet to comment on the development, as the Spokesperson for command could not be reached at the time of filing this report.