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Mechanic Village Inferno: Bayelsa Govt Sets up Probe
… Non Indigenes Group, Monarchs Visit Site
The Bayelsa State Government says it has constituted a committee to investigate the cause of the fire outbreak that gutted some parts of the Mechanic Village along Imiringi Road in Yenagoa.
Governor Douye Diri, who disclosed this on Sunday, said the committee headed by the commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment, Hon. Stanley Braboke, is also expected to ascertain the level of damage caused by the unfortunate incident and suggest measures to forestall future occurrences.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor empathized with all those affected by the inferno which reportedly occurred at about 3am on Sunday.
He thanked God as no life was lost and also commended officials of the Fire Service for their prompt intervention that saved the automobile village from total destruction.
To further improve on the response time during emergencies, the governor said steps would be taken to decentralize fire service stations in the Yenagoa metropolis.
According to Senator Diri, fire fighting trucks would be stationed in strategic areas such as Etegwe-Tombia Junction, Igbogene and Swali for quick intervention to save lives and property in the event of any fire incident.
He also said the state government would relocate the Mechanic Village to an appropriate and a more conducive location in line with extant environmental laws and best practices.
His words, “On behalf of His Excellency, the miracle Governor of Bayelsa State, we want to empathize with those who have lost properties in this unfortunate incident.
“We thank God that the fire service responded immediately. That is the essence of having the fire service. We are going to look at the possibility of having other stations in close proximity. If the distance was shorter, I am sure more properties would have been rescued.
“We are going to look at the possibility of decentralizing the fire station, to have more stations across the state capital. This government will try and position fire trucks in strategic locations like Tombia Junction, Igbogene and Swali areas.”
Earlier, the chairman of Spare Parts Dealers Association at the Mechanic Village, Mr Sunday Okoli, commended the governor for the swift visit and show of sympathy, noting that the gesture would go a long way to encourage those affected.
He appreciated the security operatives for promptly alerting the fire service as well as helping to secure the scene and its vicinity to avoid theft during the incident.
Other members of the investigative committee who accompanied the Deputy Governor on the visit include the state Commissioner of Police, CP Mike Okoli and the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule.
Meanwhile, a faction of Non-Indigenes group, Unified Non-Indegenes in Bayelsa on Monday visited the Mechanic village alongside traditional rulers of various ethnic groups.
President of the Unified Non-Indegenes Association in Bayelsa, Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, who conducted newsmen around the property destroyed by the inferno pleaded with the state government to assist those affected to return back to business.
He noted that goods worth over N400 million, vehicles and several shops had been destroyed by the Sunday night inferno.
The traditional rulers of various ethnic groups doing business in the area took turns to console the victims and prayed for their quick restoration and appealed to the Bayelsa government to assist the victims.
According to some artisans and technicians working in the mechanic village, the fire outbreak occurred on Sunday night at about 3am when the traders were in their various homes.
Though, the cause of the inferno could not be ascertained at the moment, but those doing business in the area suspected electrical fault to be the cause of the fire incident.
A spare part dealer in the village, Stanley Ejike, whose shop and good worth over N10 million were burnt by the inferno, said though the incident affected him adversely, but he praised God that no life was lost.
He said about 13 vehicles parked at the area for repairs were also burnt down by the fire, adding that the incident has caused untold hardship to several people doing business in the mechanic village.
The dealer said it took the intervention of the fire fighters to prevent the inferno from escalating to nearby buildings.
Chairman Automobile Technician Association (NATA) in Bayelsa, Mr Paniebi Abalaba, said the mechanic village which was built during the administration of then Governor Goodluck Jonathan is now congested and pleaded with the state government to expand the mechanic village.
Another spare parts dealer, Mike Eze, who claimed that he lost goods worth N50 million, lamented the hardship caused by the inferno to him and his business.
He said: “I just don’t know where to start now. I imported my goods last week, and now fire has destroyed them all, it’s a very difficult time for my business.
“Some owners of shops close to me are in shock, some who fainted after the incident are in the hospital now, but we are sure God will help us out,” he said.
