Fire guts Ebonyi Mechanic Village; filling station, buildings, offices in Ekiti

An early morning fire at the popular Mechanic Village in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, caused an estimated N15 million in damages as motor spare parts and about eight cars were reportedly destroyed, yesterday.

An evening fire also reportedly razed a filling station in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, along with other adjourning residential buildings and business offices.

Vanguard gathered that the Abakaliki inferno, which started at about 1a.m., would have engulfed the entire mechanic site but for the quick intervention of the state fire service.

The scene of the fire incident was still covered with smoke that was billowing from cars, tyres and other spare parts yesterday afternoon, while the owners and sympathisers watched helplessly.

One of the victims, Mr. Sunday Nworie, who could not control his tears, alleged that the fire incident started from a nearby workshop where apprentices may have forgotten to extinguish the burning firewood they used in refurbishing car shock absorbers.

However, the owner of the workshop, Mr. Livinus Nwadume, denied the allega-tion, pointing out that he does not make use of burning firewood to repair damaged car parts.

Also, Mr. Nwadume described the incident as unfortunate, claiming that he lost thousands of Naira worth of tyres and other spare parts.

A workshop owner, where five cars were destroyed, Mr. George Brother, said he had informed the owners about the damage and called on the state government to expand the mechanic village in order to forestall future occurrence.

In Ado-Ekiti
On the Ado-Ekiti inferno, which started at about 4p.m., it was said that a tanker that was delivering fuel at the station began to emit smoke, which snowballed into a ravaging inferno when a driver, who queued for fuel, switched on the ignition of his vehicle and the nearest fuel pump ignited.

The inferno razed several buildings, the filling station and nearby offices. The number of buildings, offices, vehicles and human casualties had not been ascertained at press time.
Meanwhile, hoodlums took over the entire area, cashing in on the incident to break into shops and rob innocent passers-by.
The fire lasted for about three hours before the state fire service could contain it.