Gov Bello condoles with victims of Itobe market fire, promises govt support to rebuild »

The Kogi State Deputy Governor and Chairman Steering Committee of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Chief (Dr.) Edward Onoja, on behalf of Governor Yahaya Bello, has paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to Saturday’s fire incident which affected Itobe Market in Ofu LGA of the State.

He visited the scene of the inferno on Wednesday with eyewitnesses saying the fire had started when a trader’s generating set caught fire, razing shops within the vicinity, and destroying properties worth millions of naira.

Delivering the Governor’s message, Chief Onoja gave assurances that Government is working assiduously with stakeholders to alleviate pains and prevent future occurrences.

He expressed that modalities have been put in place to aid the victims within available resources, with an existing directive to the State Emergency Management Agency under his supervision to verify and document the losses through collaborative efforts with other spirited individuals.

‘While we thank God no life was lost to inferno, the incident is very disturbing and I have been directed by the Governor to come down and see first-hand, the extent of the destruction. We condole with all those who lost properties to the sad incident,’ he said.

Stressing that the Itobe Market is a historical melting pot for business activities, he espoused that Governor Bello possesses high preferences for equity and fairness, which according to him, will come to play in ensuring that only affected victims of the inferno get intervention packages. He advised the traders to strictly observe safety measures against fire outbreaks to forestall future occurrences.

The Deputy Governor was earlier accompanied by top government officials to the Palace of the Onu Itobe, Alh. Salihu Adaji, and was jointly received by the Ejeh of Ofu, Alh. Akuh Obaje, and other critical religious, political, and traditional stakeholders in Ofu Local Government.

The Onu Itobe appreciated Governor Bello on his recent traditional elevation to a First-Class Status describing the Governor as running an all-inclusive administration. He called for assistance to those affected by the fire outbreak, noting that concerned head groups have been proactively identified to ease an intervention process.