A devastating fire outbreak has razed a multi-million naira palm kernel oil extracting industry in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, destroying property worth over N500 million.
The fire, which occurred in the Onuebonyi area, destroyed palm kernels worth over N170 million, refined and unrefined oil, and a Toyota Sienna bus. The industry’s executive director, Emmanuel Alinchi, stated that the fire started around 1:17 am, and by the time the fire service arrived, the entire structure was engulfed.
Alinchi appealed to the state government for intervention, emphasizing that all extracting machines were destroyed. A relation of the victim, Hillary Alinchi, also appealed to Governor Francis Nwifuru to resuscitate the industry, citing the loss of over 50 jobs.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but the Director of State Fire Service, Raphael Ibiam, commended his team’s prompt response, noting that the industry was packed with combustible materials. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident.
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