A’Ibom communities’ fire victims needs urgent rescue

A victim and boat  operator, Mr. Bassey, told NDV that he had already gone to bed when the  shout of fire by neighbors woke him up and he rushed out of his house  only to find out that fire had engulfed almost all the houses. 

VICTIMS of the recent  separate fire inferno at Otong Iwuochang,
a shanty- fishing settlement  and Iwuokpom, both in Ibeno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State have  cried out to the relevant government agencies to come to their rescue.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/aibom-communities-fire-victims-grumble/

 Amongst the victim, Anwing, a father of nine children while recounting his  loss, said: “I lost many properties to the fire, my houses, sewing  machines and fishing materials were burnt in the fire. The fire burnt my  money too.”  Damage incalculable— Community leader Chair of the community, Mr. John Eshiet, said: “The level of damage and  what the victims are facing is immeasurable. 

The impact is very high, we  are predominantly anglers here and the fishing equipment like fishing  gears, outboard engines, paddles that we use to fish and earn a  livelihood were lost in the inferno. Right now, they are relying on help  from people that come to visit and sympathize with them.

Unfortunately there has  been no government help and no fire service came when this happened. We  only tried on our own to quench the fire with water and sand, but it  did not help. Therefore, we lost everything. More than N15 million worth  of goods was destroyed in my shop alone and to rebuild this entire  place will cost not less than N20 million.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/aibom-communities-fire-victims-grumble/

These hard working people who are mostly fisher men are not being encouraged by the government evenas they dont depend on the government for jobs. Should they not be encouraged?

 Meanwhile, the lawmaker  representing Ibeno/Esit Eket in the state House of Assembly, Hon Usoro  Akpanusoh, last Tuesday, raised the matter on the floor of the House  under matters of urgent public importance, expressing fear that the fire  outbreaks were becoming a yearly occurrence in the area.

Please Let the appropriate bodies come to the aid of these people or else no more fish for us oh. Assist them because they are helping themselves, rebuild their houses and shops, so they can have their hopes up again.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/aibom-communities-fire-victims-grumble/