Tension as fire razes High Court in Cross River

A devastating fire has completely destroyed the Cross River State High Court in Ogoja, located at the Government Reserved Area (GRA). 

The fire, which broke out on Sunday around 7 PM, reduced the building to ashes, leaving nothing behind.

Eyewitnesses, including Sani Mohammed, who was present at the scene, have stated that the fire was not related to bush burning, despite the ongoing dry season and farming activities.

“The front of the court is tarred, and the back is far off any bush or dry grass, so it cannot be bush burning that caused the fire.

“Also, there was no power supply at that time; in fact, Ogoja barely had light, so it cannot be an electrical fault.

“People here are suspecting that it may be someone who has a strong case in the court,” he said.

Mohammed stated that his effort and that of others to quench the fire proved abortive as no fire service was present to put off the fire.

“There was no fire service. Meanwhile, their office is close to the court, but that place is moribund; it needs complete rehabilitation and massive funding.

“We were fetching water in buckets to quench the fire, but the fire overwhelmed us, and that’s how everything burnt down. It’s so sad,” he fumed.

Efforts to reach the State Fire Service in Ogoja for comment proved abortive at the time of filing this report.

However, the Comptroller of the Federal Fire Service in the State, Mr Cletus Makers (Retd.), decried lack of funding for the service in the state.

He said the only fire truck in the state is in Calabar, about 200km away from Ogoja.

“I know the logistics problem; we don’t have equipment. The only equipment we have was the one I was able to fight to bring down which is in Calabar. That’s the only equipment we have in the whole state.

“Even if they want to move to Ogoja, the possibility of doing anything is not there,” Makers said.

On his part , the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, CP Augustine Grimah said the matter would be thoroughly investigated as an arson case.