Metro

Fire Guts School Buildings, Two Shops In Anambra

Published

8 months ago

January 12, 2025

An evening fire has burnt some parts of the building of Practicing Primary School, located inside St. Stephen Anglican Church, Umubelu, Awka, Anambra State.

Although there was no casualty recorded, it was gathered that the fire was caused as a result of bush burning, which occurred late on Saturday and affected some parts of the roofing materials of the school’s classroom blocks.

Some eyewitnesses around the vicinity told our correspondent that the fire burnt for several minutes until men of the state fire service arrived at the scene and stopped it from further escalation to other structures.

When contacted, the head of the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Sunday.

Chiketa said a crew of firefighters and firefighting equipment were immediately deployed to the scene when it received the distress call, and the fire was fought and contained.

He said, “On Saturday, January 11, 2025, at about 4:40 pm, the Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call reporting about a bushfire outbreak at the Practicing Primary School, located inside St. Stephen Anglican Church, Umubelu, Awka, Anambra State.

“Immediately, a crew of firefighters and firefighting equipment were deployed to the scene, and the fire was fought and contained.

“The bushfire outbreak affected some parts of the roofing materials of the school’s classroom blocks but was stopped from further escalation by the Anambra firemen.

“There was no casualty recorded. The firefighters left the scene at 5:45 pm on the same day.”

He cautioned that due to the dry season, people should avoid anything that could cause fire.

He noted that people should clear the bushes/grasses in or surrounding their homes, offices, shops, factories, business areas, schools, and churches, among others

Similarly, there was a fire outbreak that occurred at the Lord’s Plaza, in the Onitsha Main Market, by Emeka Ofor, opposite the United Bank of Africa.

Although the cause of the fire could not be ascertained, it was gathered that two lock-up attachment shops on the ground floor of the plaza were affected.

The state fire service chief, who confirmed the development, said, “Earlier in the morning at 6:10 am, a tensed-up woman ran into one of the Anambra State Fire Service Stations situated in Onitsha Main-Market and reported the ongoing fire outbreak at the above-mentioned plaza.

“A crew of firefighters and firefighting equipment were immediately deployed to the scene, and the fire was contained.

“Two lock-up attachment shops on the ground floor were affected. There was no casualty. The firemen departed the scene and returned to the station at about 7:58 am the same morning.

“Be fire conscious. Fire kills, but we can prevent it.”

The state Media and Publicity Unit also confirmed a case of a fire outbreak behind the Security Office, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Campus, Awka.

It said the call was received at about 04:05 pm on Friday, adding that a crew of firemen on duty and firefighting equipment were deployed to the scene immediately, and they contained the fire outbreak.

“No damage nor casualty was recorded. The firemen withdrew from the scene at 05:09 pm on the same day.”
(PUNCH)

Metro

Three Patients Die At Hospital After Disco Cut Electricity

Published

5 minutes ago

September 16, 2025

Editor

Three patients on life support at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital have died following an interruption to the hospital’s electricity supply by Kano Electricity Distribution Company.

Hospital spokesman, Hauwa Dutse, who confirmed the death in a statement on Monday, said four patients were on ventilatory support in its Intensive Care Unit when power was cut, but three died.

The PUNCH gathered that KEDCO disconnected the facility over an outstanding debt of N949.88 million as of the end of August.

The Disco’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Sani Bala, in a statement on Monday, said the hospital is also expected to settle its August bill of N108.95 million in full within 10 working days or risk further sanctions.

Hauwa explained that the blackout had a direct impact on patients on life-support machines.

“On that very day, Friday, there were four patients on admission, and due to the power outage, three of them died,” she said.

She explained that the issue has been resolved after an urgent meeting involving stakeholders from AKTH, KEDCO, and the Police.

According to her, “The Managing Director immediately after the meeting directed KEDCO engineers to reconnect electricity to the hospital.

“The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, AKTH, wishes to inform the general public that the matter has been resolved amicably in collaboration with KEDCO and the Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Bakori.

“The management of AKTH expresses its sincere appreciation to the Commissioner of Police and the Managing Director of KEDCO for their timely support and concern during this challenging period.”

Meanwhile, KEDCO spokesman, Sani Bala, said technicians had sought to separate the hospital’s supply from residential staff quarters because of alleged wastage, but were initially denied access, prompting the shutdown that led to the disruption.

(PUNCH)

Metro

VIDEO: Fire Guts High-rise Building In Lagos, Occupants Trapped

Published

41 minutes ago

September 16, 2025

Editor

A fire has broken out at a section of Afriland Towers, which houses a branch of the United Bank for Africa, and other companies in the Marina area of Lagos Island.

The incident, captured in several videos shared on social media from different angles, showed thick smoke billowing from the high-rise building as panic spread across the busy commercial hub.

In one of the clips, some yet-to-be-identified individuals were seen attempting to jump from the storey building, while others were rescued with the aid of a ladder by residents and passersby.

A crowd were spotted at the front of the building as they were seen panicking.

Confirming the incident in a statement, signed by Deputy Controller General, Ogabi Olajide, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said its operatives were battling the fire at the six-storey building located on Broad Street.

“A fire outbreak is currently being battled at a six-storey building on Afriland Tower, Broad Street, Lagos Island. The call was received at 13:38 hours, and fire crews from Ebute Elefun Fire Station and Sari Iganmu Fire Station responded,” it partly read.

It explained that the fire started in the inverter room in the basement before smoke spread across multiple floors and engulfed the structure.

“Evacuation of occupants is in progress, while firefighting operations has been concluded dousing the earlier panic before the arrival of the first responders,” it added.

As of press time, no casualties had been officially confirmed.

Watch video below

https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/1967973045965881465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1967973045965881465%7Ctwgr%5E01817a27f1f1dcd7108982d049b88ef2c615414f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpunchng.com%2Fvideo-fire-guts-high-rise-building-in-lagos-occupants-trapped%2F

Metro

Ondo: VP Mysteriously Disappears From Hotel After Attending Seminar

Published

23 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

Olaloye Olatunde, Vice Principal of Ipele Community High School, Owo, Ondo State, mysteriously disappeared from a hotel after attending a seminar in Akure, the state capital.

It was gathered that only his personal belongings were discovered inside the hotel room where he lodged for the seminar after his mysterious disappearance.

He reportedly travelled from Owo to Akure to attend a Child Labour Programme organised by Trace Project, Akure, in partnership with Charakids Foundation.

The victim’s wife, Mrs. Adenike Olaloye, said he called her after checking into a Hotel in Alagbaka, where all other participants lodged.

According to her “We spoke regularly until Wednesday.

“By Friday, his phone was no longer reachable. The seminar was supposed to end that day, but I never heard from him again.”

”I was the one who arranged his bag before he travelled. That same bag was what they later found in his hotel room. Sadly, they had already packed it out without telling me.”

Also, speaking of the ugly incident, Olaoyes elder brother, Zacheus Olaloye, said “When my brother’s wife called me that she hadn’t seen my brother, I went to the hotel.

“The staff initially told me that all participants had checked out.

“But later I discovered the bag they said was abandoned was my brother’s own, with his clothes and shoes still inside.”

Zacheus, a retired civil servant, lamented that “We tried to preview the footage, but nothing worked. Later, the management showed us a grainy video of a man walking out of the premises. But that wasn’t my brother. The figure wasn’t clear at all.”

He added, sadly, that neither the organisers of the seminar nor the hotel have reached out to the family formally after Olatunde disappeared.

“The matter was reported to the police by the family at the Zone 17 AIG office, before we were directed to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad.

“The hotel management has not called us, and the organisers have done nothing tangible to help us find my brother. We are the ones chasing everyone. They should help us.”

Speaking on the matter, the manager of the hotel, Mr. Kenneth Ekpeyong, and a staff, Mrs. Oluwaseyi Adebayo, said that all participants were well accounted for until Friday evening.

Ekpeyong said that “On August 24, 49 participants arrived, later increasing to 58. On Friday, we organised an Asun Night for them, as part of our hospitality package.

“Some left that night, while others checked out on Saturday,” Adebayo explained.

On her part, Mrs Adebayo said “one facilitator instructed the hotel to clear the belongings in Room 305, claiming the occupant had travelled to sign teachers’ salary vouchers.

“We used our master card to open the room, packed the bag, and documented it. Later we were told it was the vice principal’s bag.”

“From our CCTV, we saw him on Wednesday, and then again on Thursday morning, August 28, at exactly 6:17 a.m., when he walked out of the hotel and never returned. That is why the room was eventually opened.”

Contacted, the state police command spokesperson Ayanlade Olayinka, said that “the command has launched an investigation into the mystery surrounding his disappearance.

” The command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s sudden disappearance,

“We call on members of the public to provide any useful information that can assist us in unraveling the case.”

Ayanlade has however, assured members of the public that police detectives would unearth the mystery behind the disappearance of the Vice Principal.