The academic complex of the SteadyFlow College Of Education in Akparabong Community, Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State has been ravaged by a fire incident.
The blaze broke out in the institution, causing extensive damage to academic facilities valued at millions of naira.
School facilities affected by the fire include lecture halls, offices, and toilets. Numerous valuables, worth millions of naira, were consumed by the inferno.
While the cause of the fire remains unknown, speculations among community residents suggest that it entered the school premises when a passerby accidentally discarded a cigarette filter after smoking near the perimeter fence.
The filter scaled through the fence, leading to the destruction of valuable items and school facilities.
However, an eyewitness, Ada Agbor, said that it was a bushfire that spread into the school premises, causing the destruction.
Hon. Jones Tangban, the founder of SteadyFlow College of Education and a former National Assembly member representing Boki/Ikom Federal Constituency, attributed the fire incident to indiscriminate bush burning.
He stressed the need for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to intervene promptly so that the institution can reopen.
He said, “We thank God that no lives were lost. We urge state and federal government agencies, especially NEMA, to come to our aid because the destruction of facilities at the college is affecting resumption. SteadyFlow College of Education’s Academic complex has been engulfed by a wildfire today, causing significant destruction.”
