By Abba Onyekachukwu
Around 2am on Thursday, the 20th day of February, 2025, was a day that will continue to remain indelible in the minds of the indigenes and residents of Idu, the host Community of Idu Industrial Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
That was the day a family house belonging to one Alhaji Yahaya was razed by uncontrollable inferno.
The source of the fire incident can’t be ascertained at press time, but our man gathered that the fire started and it was thought that it was coming from the kitchen, but when it came in full force, it couldn’t be quenched instantly, and the whole family house and properties worth millions were raised by the inferno.
However neighbors who were able to come out, our man further gathered, were able to quench the heavy conflagration to expand to nearby buildings.
Although the head of the family, Alhaji Yahaya himself couldn’t be reached, but this media house also gathered from people in the community that had it been that there is a Nigeria Fire Services in the area, the fire incident would have been prevented, by the officers and men of the fire service.
When the traditional ruler of the community, Chief Muhammad Bawa Makama was reached, he sympathized with the affected family, describing that as a serious setback. Makama therefore noted that the hardship that is usually associated with such temptation, “at this hard time,” is not easily bearable. But he prayed that God intervenes for the family to be able to overcome the hardship.
Calling on the government to provide the community with a fire service station, which if done, according to him would have quenched the inferno, he also appealed to the government to come to the assistance of the family, to enable the head of such a large family to start all over again.
The village head, therefore advised indigenes and residents within his domain to be cautious of anything that would cause a fire outbreak, saying a stitch in time, saves nine.
