Properties worth hundreds of millions of Naira were on Sunday destroyed in a fire that ripped through a Shopping mall, Phil-hallmark supermarket, in Benin, Edo State.
The fired which claimed no casualties was said to have started at about 3:00 am from the top floor of the building, and spread through other floors due to the late arrival of the state fire service men.
While fielding questions from reporters, the Director of the Edo State Fire Service, Agbonlahor Franklin, said the service did not respond swiftly to the incident due to lack of adequate equipment.
In his reaction, Governor Godwin Obaseki, was shocked over the State Fire Service’s claim of lack of equipment, as he ordered immediate cause of the fire.
“This incident happening at this time of the year is a catastrophe,” .
“I have asked for written report and investigation into the cause of the fire.
“We will also investigate the claim by an official of the state Fire service on the allegation of lack of equipment.
“Because I understand that trucks were distributed by the NDDC and the State Government during the last administration,” Obaseki said during a visit to the site of the incident.
