By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Angry mob over the weekend attacked the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Fire Service over negligence and inability to bring under control the fire that engulfed the multi billion naira electrical and electronics Pee – Links, in Lokoja, Kogi state capital.
The magnificent Electronic house which is located along Muritala Muhammed way, close to GT Bank Junction, Lokoja was alleged to have gutted fire following intermittent power outages at about 11.30 pm and destroyed the entire house despite efforts of in-equipped sympathizers and volunteers.
Irked by the absence of fire fighters from both the state and federal fire fighters, some youth constituted themselves in to a mob and launched an attack on the Federal Ministry of Works situated directly opposite the scene of the incident.
Both the Federal Ministry of Works and Fire Service which happen to be in the same premises were vandalized and property worth thousands of naira including office equipment’s were allegedly destroyed.
All efforts to reach the Kogi state Commissioner of works, Engineer Abubakar Ohere, or other relevant officials of state ministry of works to comment on the incident, the alleged failure to discharge their responsibility and raid on the federal Ministry of works failed.
However, officials of the federal ministry of works and fire service have confirmed the attack and vandalization of their facilities by the suspected mob, whom, they said acted in ignorance.
The officials who spoke under conditions of anonymity, said normally the federal fire service in the state is to compliment the state fire service, but was handicapped due to breakdown of its machines.
“It is true that irate mob attacked the federal fire service in Lokoja over the fire incident but it’s on record that the federal fire service has always performed its duties, until when our vehicle got damaged due to an accident in the course of duty and has been taken to Abuja for repairs. This office should not take blame for the unfortunate incident”, the official stated.
The owner of the enterprise, Mr Peter Ojuneme, who expressed shock over the unfortunate incident, thanked the people of Lokoja and the Kogi state for their support, sympathy and encouragement, calling on relevant agencies to investigate the cause of the inferno to avert future occurrence.
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