By Sylvia Akpan, Government House Correspondent
The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu has visited the scene and victims of the fire incident that raided shops at Bogobiri in the prime hours of Friday afternoon, donating the sum of ten (10) million Naira to cushion the effect of the disaster.
Otu while addressing victims said: “As a government, we are indeed very sad with what has happened here. For people who have never been here before, they will not know the extent of this carnage. This is very serious considering that this is the center of trade by the Hausa community and this capital.”
He continued: “This is very unfortunate but in life, we must have incidences like this. We are coming in this time to support you and to let you know that the government is going to be behind you in all that has happened here.
“For today we will immediately make available the sum of 10 million Naira and then we will quickly help in erecting these stores back.
“For those who had lost almost all they have here, I will say so long as there is life, there is hope, and God the Almighty Allah will provide again.
He called for peace and assured the people of the Bogobiri community of the State government’s support: “All I would say here is that let there be peace. The new government is trying to put structures in place in the not-too-distant time, I believe that we will start functioning at the optimal level that is expected. But even in the process, we are going to do the best that we can to help the people here.
“We are very happy with our Hausa brothers who are here. We have lived like this for decades right from the father of the present Sarki.”
One of the victims who spoke with CrossRiverWatch, Ibrahim Bala while recounting, said the incident started at about 1:00 pm on Friday and no one can ascertain the cause of the fire as they were in the mosque.
The visit had in attendance the Deputy Governor Hon. Peter Odey; Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Elvert Ayambam; Deputy Speaker – Hon. Sylvester Agabi; Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar; His Royal Highness, the Sarki of the Hausa community Alhaji Garba among others.
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