Fire engulfs Akim Timber Market in Calabar six days after Gas explosion

2026-03-27 - 21:33

By Ike Uchechukwu, Calabar A raging fire on Friday night engulfed the popular Akim Timber Market in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area, Cross River State, just six days after a gas explosion in the same area injured about 60 people. The fire, which started around 8:45 p.m. near the Akim Police Area Command, destroyed shops and goods as residents and shop owners scrambled to salvage belongings. Despite frantic calls, neither state nor federal fire services intervened. When Vanguard visited the scene at about 9:15 p.m., policemen from Akim were present, but no firefighters were in sight. Residents of the adjacent Akim Police Barracks, which shares a fence with the market, were seen removing valuables from their homes. Mrs. Enang Philomena, a local resident, lamented the lack of response. “The fire service in Cross River is a big joke. We have been calling since the fire started, but there has been no response. If they cannot come in the daytime, how can they respond at night?” she said. Efforts to obtain official comments from relevant authorities were unsuccessful. Investigations indicate that response to fires in Cross River State since early 2026 has been abysmally poor. Earlier, during the gas explosion, Emmanuel Ajom, Director of the State Fire Service, said state fire trucks—procured 14 years ago—were under maintenance. Similarly, Mrs. Olumayowa Olomola, State Commanding Officer of the Federal Fire Service, explained that a federal fire truck was recently vandalized during an operation, and some officers sustained injuries. Despite promises from the state government to repair the truck and treat the injured, no action had been taken months later.