Blaze sweeps through Calabar's Akim Timber Market just six days following gas blast

A devastating fire swept through the Akim Timber Market in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area, Cross River State, on Friday night, just six days after a gas explosion in the same area left about 60 people injured.

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The blaze, which began around 8:45 p.m. near the Akim Police Area Command, razed shops and goods, prompting residents and shop owners to rush to save their belongings in a frantic bid to minimize losses.

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Despite urgent calls for help, neither the state nor federal fire services responded to the emergency, leaving the affected community to fend for itself.

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When the scene was visited at around 9:15 p.m., policemen from the Akim Police Area Command were present, but notably, there were no firefighters in sight to combat the inferno.

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Residents of the adjacent Akim Police Barracks, which shares a fence with the market, were seen rushing to remove their valuables from their homes, fearing the fire could spread and cause further destruction.

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Mrs. Enang Philomena, a local resident, expressed her frustration and disappointment at the lack of response from the fire service, saying the situation was a stark reminder of the inadequacies of the emergency services in Cross River State.

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She lamented, “The fire service in Cross River is a big joke, as we have been calling for help since the fire started, but there has been no response, which raises questions about their ability to respond to emergencies, especially at night.”

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Efforts to obtain official comments from the relevant authorities were unsuccessful, adding to the uncertainty and concern surrounding the incident.

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Investigations have revealed that the response to fires in Cross River State since early 2026 has been woefully inadequate, highlighting a persistent problem that needs to be addressed.

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Earlier, during the gas explosion, Emmanuel Ajom, Director of the State Fire Service, had explained that the state's fire trucks, which were procured 14 years ago, were undergoing maintenance, which had hindered their ability to respond to emergencies.

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Mrs. Olumayowa Olomola, State Commanding Officer of the Federal Fire Service, had also noted that a federal fire truck was recently vandalized during an operation, resulting in injuries to some officers, and despite promises from the state government to repair the truck and treat the injured, no action had been taken months later.