By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh
The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Comrade Joel Salifu January 6, 2025, visited the site of the fire incident at Itobe market to conduct a firsthand assessment of the extent of damage in the area. He reassured the victims of the inferno of government support to alleviate their plight.
In Press statement released by the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mr Unubi Emmanuel, the Deputy Governor who was accompanied by the Member representing Ofu constituency at the State House of Assembly, Hon Shehu Seidu Amodu, and the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Hon. Muktar Atima, expressed sorrow over the tragic accident that resulted in the loss of properties valued at millions of naira.
Acknowledging Itobe’s significance as a gateway to Kogi East and a pathway to the eastern part of the country, he emphasized that the government would always prioritize the area, emphasizing that any impact on the city affects the local government and the entire kogi east.
He affirmed Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s commitment to alleviating the suffering of the people, assuring that the Itobe incident would not be overlooked. He encouraged the residents not to lose faith in the government.
In his capacity as the chairman of the state disaster response team, Deputy Governor Joel Salifu dispatched the State Emergency Management Agency to assess the fire incident and provide a detailed report for intervention. He assured that once the reports are received, government relief and assistance would be extended to the affected individuals.
Furthermore, he advised residents who have constructed their homes beneath high-tension wires and electricity cables to relocate to open grounds as a precautionary measure to prevent future outbreaks.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Ofu Local Government Area, Hon. Mohammed Lawal Musa, highlighted that the inferno began in the early hours of Monday, February 3rd, and quickly escalated beyond control, appealing to the state government and NEMA for assistance.
Similarly, the Ejeh Ofu and Chairman Ofu Area Traditional Council, HRH Chief Akwu A Obaje, emphasized the extensive damage inflicted on the traders’ goods, stressing the urgent need for relief and assistance to restore the affected individuals.
The Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Hon. Muktar Atima, revealed that approximately thirty-seven businesses had been devastated by the inferno, resulting in losses exceeding one hundred and fifty million naira. He mentioned that assessments had been conducted on the affected areas and merchandise, with reports to be submitted to the Deputy Governor for consideration and approval of interventions.
Concluding the visit, the chairman of the Itobe market, Mr. Alfa Shuke, expressed gratitude to the Deputy Governor for his concern for the victims, urging swift interventions to revive their sources of livelihood.
