Abia Federal High Court Fire Caused By Illegal Transload Of Product From Diesel Tankers Parked As Exhibit — Report

The last may not have been heard about the Tuesday fire which engulfed the neighborhood of Federal High Court Umuahia in Abia State which also consumed no fewer than four diesel tankers.

When ABN TV visited the venue of the fire incident on Tuesday, men of the Abia state Fire Service were on ground to put the inferno under control.

Enquiry by our correspondent indicates that the court had ordered that the tankers remain in the premises.

They were allegedly used to convey illegal petroleum products by suspected bunkerers.

It is however not certain if the court has dispensed of the case as the petroleum tankers were said to have been auctioned out.

One of the workers in the court allegedly attempted to transload the product stored in one of the tanks using his generator.

While doing that, it was reported that a spark occurred in the plug area, leading to a fire incident.

The suspect fled the scene as the fire raged.

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The intervention of the fire service officials prevented the inferno from affecting adjoining buildings including Abia State House of Assembly, Zone 9 police headquarters, DSS office, and other public buildings.

The firemen led the Acting Director Abia State Fire Service, Mr. Nnanna Arua had battled the fire for over 4 hours before bringing it under control.

Not less than six drums were discharged in fighting the inferno. Upon arrival, Chief of Staff to the Governor, ACB Agbazuere ordered that more trucks be made available to support the fire service.

Also on ground to support the operation was the Commissioner of Police, Director DSS, AIG in charge of Zone 9, and others.

The Acting Director of Abia State Fire Service, Mr. Nnanna Arua said his office received the distress call about the fire incident at about 6pm and immediately activated a response in about 5 minutes later.

He said his men made efforts to confine the fire by ensuring that it does not escalate to adjoining properties.

Mr. Arua called on those handing gasoline and other flammable products to exercise a high level of caution while discharging their products.