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Female hostel of Aminu Sale College of Education, Azare destroyed by fire last weekend
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Following recent incidences of fire outbreaks that have led to lost of few lives and valuables in Azare, headquarters of Katagum LGA as well as Katagum Emirate, Bauchi State Government has been called upon to as a matter of urgency provide a brand new functional fire fighting vehicle in the area.
The most recent fire incidence occurred at the female hostel of Aminu Sale College of Education, Azare where properties belonging to students on Summer studies were lost though no injuries recorded.
Another fire incident recently was the burning of a section of the Azare Muslim graveyard said to have been ignited by butts of cigarettes dropped by miscreants who normally go there to smoke Indian hemp and other intoxicating stuff.
Some restaurants of Azare who spoke to our Correspondent lamented that lack of a functional fire fighting vehicle is contributing to the damages caused by the fire outbreaks as people depend on community support to fight such outbreak.
One of the residents, Aminu Danjuma told our Correspondent that Azare and environs have remained prone to fire outbreak due to absence of a fire fighter vehicle in the last one year since the old one broke down.
Musa Danjuma said that if there is a fire fighter vehicle available, the outbreak can be controlled thereby making the destruction minimal calling on the government to immediately do something about it.
Another resident who does not want his name printed told our Correspondent that some group in Azare have muted the idea of contributing money to enable them purchase a fire fighter vehicle even if it is a fairly used one to help the people save lives and properties.
Reacting to the development, Majority Leader of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Tijjani Aliyu dismissed politicization of the absence of a functional fire fighter vehicle in Azare as being insinuated in some quarters.
He told our Correspondent that, “The functional one got an accident beyond repairs and complaint for replacement was made and the Governor has shown serious commitment towards that”.
Tijjani Aliyu who agreed that there have been series of fire outbreaks in Azare in recent months expressed that, “and I am hopeful that any moment from now, a brand new functional fire fighter vehicle will be provided.
According to him,” we are all under the leadership of His Excellency, the Governor and issue of politicizing the issue by some people does not even arise. I am very sure that the Governor will put the matter to rest very soon in sha Allah as he promised. United Bauchi State is our dream”.
Another government functionary, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Projects Monitoring, Musa Azare dismissed insinuation of politicization of the issue saying, “how can such an issue be politicized, it beats my imagination when I heard that. The Governor is doing everything possible to ensure that Azare got a brand new and functional fire fighter vehicle”.
