EIGHTEEN people were on
Friday morning roasted while others sustained third degree burns in an inferno
at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, following an explosion at the premises of
the Bank located at Calabar Road by the Millennium Park.
The explosion which
took place at about 11.45 am set the main edifice of the bank on fire
effectively trapping many staff and visitors which occasioned for the high
casualty fire.
Scene from the CBN gas
explosion in Calabar When Vanguard visited the scene at 12 noon, a team of
mobile policemen and soldiers assisted by nurses and personnel of the Nigeria
Security and civil defense Corps were seen keeping guard over the place while
officials of the Federal and State Fires Services were putting out the fire and
rescuing those trapped in the building.
“I cannot give exact figures of how many
people are dead but many people were burnt beyound recognition while many
sustained third degree burns; rescue operation is going on to ensure everyone
is brought out soon” An Official of the Federal Fire Service at the Calabar
Airport told our reporter.
He said the source of the explosion is not
known but it is speculate to be some locally made improvised device while some
say it is the gas tank at the generator house that exploded. Ambulances from
the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH and General Hospital Calabar
were brought in to evacuate the dead and those wounded while rescue efforts
were being made to extricate those still inside.
No official of the bank was willing to speak
to the press on the cause of the inferno but the Assistant Inspector Genral of
Police, A I G Zone six, Mr Baba Bolanta said so far eighteen persons were
casualty “but no death has been recorded” He said.
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