…As OBALGA chair gives #N7m to victims of gas explosion
By: Felix Ikpotor
An eight-month-old baby is feared killed following a fire at a self-contained apartment on Rumuworlu Street, in the Eneka area of Obio Akpor local government area of Rivers State.
Although the actual cause of the fire which occurred Monday morning is still unknown, but the inferno affected two of the seven units of the self-contained apartments in the area.
Eyewitnesses at the scene of the fire incident said that the mother of the baby who ran into the burning house to rescue her two children also sustained injuries in the process.
They said while her two-year-old survived with severe injuries, the 8-month-old died as a result of suffocation from the inferno.
It was reported that personnel of the Rivers State Emergency Medical Service later arrived at the scene and took the victims to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, RSUTH for medical attention.
Oroazi Gas Explosion: Council Chair Doles Out Additional Million To Victims.
Similarly, the chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo has given out an additional seven million naira to victims of the January 4th gas explosion in Oroazi axis of the state.
The sum is in addition to the initial three million naira he gave to Sonabel hospital in Oroazi, three days after the gas explosion for the treatment of the victims.
Ihunwo who visited the hospital on Monday to check the conditions of victims of the gas explosion, announced the release of another four million naira to the management of the hospital.
Meanwhile, during a similar visit to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Ihunwo who was received by the Chief Medical Director, Professor Chizindu Alikor also doled out three million naira for the treatment of the victims.
The council chairman also gave one million naira to family members of the victims who were on ground in the hospital as at the time of his visit.
Explaining his reason for the donation, Ihunwo said he wants to ensure that the victims recover fully from the unfortunate incident without spending a kobo.
He said one of the main focus of his administration is to protect lives and property and also change the economic fortune of the people for the better.
” I was hear last week to see things for myself, I am here again to see how the patients are faring, this is because the lives of our people mean a lot to us as an administration.There is no way we can sleep well when our people are in this kind of pain, we share in this moment with them.”
“We will not just support you financially but as a council we are praying for your total recovery from this tragic incident, all we ask is for you to be strong this trying period, we are in this together,” he said.
At the Sonabel hospital in Oroazi, the proprietor, Mr Sunny Obele told Ihunwo and his team that the four victims that were brought to his facility on the day of the incident are responding well to treatment.
He thanked the Chairman for his magnanimity in paying off the bills for their treatment from day one till date and beyond.
Also, at the Rivers State University Teaching hospital, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Chizindu Alikor described the situation as pathetic.
He said while three people have given up the ghost, the remaining victims are receiving better care courtesy the support from the Rivers state government and other well meaning individuals.
Alikor said the three million naira donation from Ihunwo will aid the treatment of the victims.
