By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Properties destroyed in the fire outbreak which occurred at Saint Peters Minor Seminary, Katari in Kagarko LGA of Kaduna state, has been estimated at about N500 million.
The Rector of the school Rev. Fr. Sati Edward who disclosed this at the school premises while on-the-spot assessment tour of the facilities with newsmen however said the school has not been in sessions for over two years due to insecurity.
Rev. Fr. Edward who could not ascertain the cause of the fire incident said he was in the school premises between 10:30 -11am on Tuesday and left for Kaduna main town before the news of the fire incident got to him.
“When I rush back, I still met the flame. When we try to fix one with Bishop, we saw the other side in flame. Up till now I still cannot be certain about the cause of the fire, but I believe it started slightly from the back side of the building where we could see the bush burnt over there and spread to the school.
“Around 12 midnight I got a call that the hostels of the seminary is on fire, I immediately put a call to the bishop to let him know of the incident, at that time I was in Kaduna town.
“Immediately i put off the call, I rush to the seminary, at that time the youth of the area were already there trying to put off the fire but it was so serious that there was nothing they could do. The Archbishop later came’, he said.
“For over two years, the students have not been there in the school because of insecurity. If they were there, perhaps it wouldn’t have happen or it would’ve been put off by the students”, he lamented.
He also said people that were leaving around the school environment have packed and went to main town because they were told that the place was no long save, adding that if they were around, the incident would’ve been prevented too.
According to him, a number of the blocks of the school buildings were seriously ravaged by the fire which sources were still unknown to them. “We lost four blocks, 2 hostels, the laboratory blocks and host of others earlier estimated at N100 million but later discovered to be worth N500 million.
The Kaduna Archdiocese Education Secretary Mr. John .Ewoye who was also in company of Fr. Edward described the incident as shocking.
“The entire diocesan is still living in shock and surprises. Is like from frying palm to the fire”, he said, adding that the dioceses decided to relocated the students to other seminaries in other not to risk their life because of insecurity only to hear about the fire incident.
The Director Social communications of Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese Rev. Fr. Stephen Onyema, also told journalists that they were in the school to assess the fire incident and see the level of damage.
He said after going round the affected facilities they discovered that the fire incident was a huge loss to the dioceses, but thanked God that no life was lost.
He called on spirited individuals and corporates organizations interested in education to come to the aide for the institution to come back in place before the resumption of the students after insecurity.
