Commissioner of Bureau for Special Duties, Etacherure Ejiro Terry, has reiterated on the need to be safety conscious, especially during this harmattan season, as wind is one of the major carriers and catalysts of fire.
He stated this when he visited the scene of the fire disaster at Hausa Market, by custom check point, adjacent Okpanam city gate, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The Bureau Commissioner visited the scene of the incident with the permanent secretary of the Bureau, Prince Greg Ejohwomu, director of State Emergency Management Board (SEMA), Karo Ovemeso, the director Delta State Fire Service Command, Eugene Oziwele, commiserated with the people over the disaster that destroyed property worth millions of naira and also injuries to some of the victims.
Etacherure expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost and encouraged the victims to calm down, noting that their welfare matters to the government irrespective of their tribe, hence the the need for the visit. However, he gave out cash to the victims to help subside the pain of some of the properties lost to fire.
According to the leader of the market, Mallam Aliyu Shehu, the fire incident razed down over 1,200 shops including a mosque, saying the fire was caused by an explosion from a cooking gas.
Similarly, the Commissioner and the team advanced to Ubulu-Okiti, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, a scene of another fire incident that took place in the early hours of Wednesday, February 7, 2023.
He sympathized with the father of four over the disastrous incident and noted that the Governor is concerned about every citizen of the state, hence the rapid response from the Delta State fire service.
According to a victim, Mr Jacob Octfu, the fire was caused by illegal bunkering behind his legitimate business and it razed down four shops.
