BEVERLY HILLS, June 08, (THEWILL) – A raging fire on Tuesday engulfed the Federal Secretariat complex along Okpanam Road in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The fire was noticed when passersby and staff discovered the inferno spreading.
They were said to have raised the alarm that attracted fire servicemen, including sympathisers within the premises
Meanwhile, the police have debunked claims that unknown gunmen set fire to the building, saying it must have been due to an electrical fault.
THEWILL reports that the inferno overwhelmed the fire fighting machinery stationed at the complex, as even the state fire service was not up to the task of putting out the fire.
However, reinforcement mobilised from the fire service at the Asaba Airport helped contain the situation.
Although, the fire has been put out, property worth millions of naira was reportedly destroyed by the inferno.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) office, located on the 2nd floor of the Federal Secretariat, was completely razed by the fire.
The secretariat complex houses most annex offices of Federal ministries, departments and agencies in the state.
The cause of the fire, which reportedly started in the early hours of Tuesday, is yet to be established.
However, it was gathered that the fire started at the NYSC office, located on the 2nd floor of the Secretariat.
Reports had alleged that unknown gunmen men had set the Secretariat on fire.
In a swift reaction, the State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Olutayo Samuel, said the burnt NYSC offices in Secretariat, was not caused by unknown gunmen, adding that the source of fire is still unknown.
Speaking to newsmen, the Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Edafe Bright, said: “The whole place was locked so it is very possible that they put on any of the electrical appliances. There is no access to the place. It was the corpers’ section and they are in camp. It is possible that it was caused by an electrical issue.”
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