Two separate fire incidents between Friday and Saturday have destroyed properties worth several millions of Naira in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State.
The first incident occurred on Friday night at Amarata, near the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Vanguard offices.
The second one occurred early Saturday in Ovom, a suburb of the state capital.
The houses razed at Aritalin, Ovom, were all wooden structures and the occupants were mainly commercial sex workers.
A resident of the area, Miss Joy Onuh, said the fire started from a locked room.
“We do not know how the fire started. And we never knew it would spread because we thought that it was just an ordinary smoke. Then, it became serious,” she said.
“We still appreciate the efforts of the state fire fighters in putting out the fire, though they arrived late.”
One of the affected residents, Jully Bobby, sobbed as she recounted her losses.
She said all her belongings including money, clothing and mobile phone were lost in the inferno.
At Imgbi Road, Amarata, where the second fire happened, a car and shops were destroyed.
The fire was believed to have been sparked by adulterated fuel and kerosene loaded in the car.
“It would have been a disaster if not for the help of the fire service. The car was fully loaded with fuel; I commend the efforts of the state fire fighters,” a female resident said.
