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From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The ultra-modern Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp earlier constructed for victims of disasters or unforeseen circumstances in the southern part of Plateau State but later converted to a COVID-19 treatment centre in Shendam local government area of the state has been gutted by fire. The incident took place on February 16.
A resident of Shendam municipal, Mr. Julius Buba, told Daily Sun that the disaster broke out in the early hours of Friday as a result of bush burning by unknown persons, leading to the burning of the COVID-19 treatment centre with good facilities.
Buba further noted that the fire was stopped from consuming the entire structur through the intervention of members of the community and some passers-by on that faithful day.
He said the unfortunate development prompted the immediate visit of the TIC Chairman of Shendam LGC, Dr. Kemi Nicholas Nshe, in company of the council’s directors, the DPO and his team to the scene of the incident to ascertain the level of damage. They gave their words of appreciation to the locals for their swift intervention.
Nshe further explained to Daily Sun that 95 percent of the COVID-19 facilities threatened by the fire were saved and are in good condition.
He said: “We have one of the IDPs camps for southern zone meant for those affected as a result of flood or as a result of other outbreak or natural deserter.
“This centre was built by the federal government sometime between 2013 and 2015 and has been existing there.
“When we had the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, that place was converted to a centre where people were treated and hospitalized.
“We happened to have some COVID-19 equipment inside that were procure by the federal government and also some assistance from donors outside the country. The place was gutted by fire on February 16, 2024.
“Part of the roof and other things have been burned, but about 90 to 95% COVID materials that are supposed to be there are safe. We have put them in safe custody.
“It was just a wild fire caused by the locals and they didn’t know that it will got to that level.
“The fire went round the back of the building and there were these PVC rubber pipes. The fire went through them up to the roof.
“It wasn’t that the fire was deliberate. It was a wild fire and suddenly performed the wild function.”
The commissioner of health, Dr. Cletus Shurkuk, confirmed the development, adding that an assessment committee consisting of fire service alongside the State Emergency Management Agency have been constituted and are currently taking stock of the level of destructions caused by the wild fire.
The executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Hon. Sunday Abdu, said a committee has been set up and are waiting for the outcome of the committee’s investigation.
“A committee has since been constituted, you know this is not the first time such fire incident is recorded there. But we are waiting for the outcome of the work of the committee and their recommendations,” he stated.
The fire incident is the second in the facility since its completion. The administrative section of the ultra modern facility came under fire in March 2018 where properties worth N45 million was destroyed.
