‘We Couldn’t Save Anything’ — Fire Guts Residential Apartments In Abuja Suburb

A fire outbreak on Sunday morning razed a two-storey residential building at Plot 170, Cascurina Street, Nyanya Federal Housing Estate, Abuja.

The fire destroyed two apartments on the upper floor and left occupants counting their losses.

The incident, which started at about 7:30am, was reportedly triggered by an electrical fault shortly after power was restored to the building.

Witnesses said sparks were noticed around the control board and rooftop wiring before the fire spread rapidly to adjoining flats.

Speaking to THE WHISTLER at the scene, Superintendent of Fire at the Nyanya Station, Felix Okoh, said the fire had already escalated by the time his team received the distress call from the control room.

“When we arrived, the fire had gone beyond expectation. It had already come out through the roof,” Okoh said.

“My men and I did everything possible to arrest the situation. It took us about five minutes from our office to get here after receiving the call,” he added.

He explained that access to the building was initially hindered by barricades and a group of hoodlums, forcing the firefighters to take an alternative route.

“If not for our quick intervention, the entire building would have been destroyed,” he added.

Okoh noted that the fire investigation department would determine the exact origin of the fire and stressed the need for better safety measures in residential buildings.

“There is no preventive measure here, no fire extinguishers in any of the flats. Every household should have one while waiting for the Fire Service. And then many people here also don’t have our emergency numbers,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to save fire service emergency numbers and adopt basic fire-prevention steps.

“The Fire Service of today is not what it used to be. We now have modern trucks with speed and accuracy. But residents must also take responsibility by putting preventive measures in place.”

One of the affected occupants, Godsent Ozioko, said he was away briefly when the fire started.

“It began from the flat on the left. When I came back and tried to get my phone, everywhere was already filled with smoke. We couldn’t save anything — life first. Everyone had to run out,” he said.

Ozioko suspected faulty electrical wiring in the roof as the cause of the inferno.

“There was light when it started. The wires at the rooftop sparked and we have PVC materials there, which are highly inflammable. It’s definitely electrical.”

He added that although the Fire Service eventually arrived, the fire had already caused extensive damage.

“You can’t expect them to disappear or fly here instantly. They came when they could. It’s not time to start throwing blame.”

Another resident and eyewitness, Thobeh Njoku, said the fire broke out as families were preparing for church.

“We heard people screaming that there was fire. Some men rushed upstairs and brought out the children and other occupants. Before anything else could be saved, the furniture and everything was already burning. The staircase was completely black with smoke, it was terrible,” she recounted.

Njoku said she called the Fire Service, who promised to dispatch a rescue team.

“They arrived about 30 minutes later, but by then the two upstairs flats were already engulfed. No property could be saved, but thankfully, no life was lost.”

She added that residents were told the fire was linked to an electrical spark at a changeover point upstairs, as confirmed by one of the occupants.

“It’s devastating, a terrible way to start the year. It’s truly a torrid experience for everyone involved,” she said.