A fire outbreak on Saturday ravaged a property in Abuja linked to former Zamfara State governor Senator Sani Yerima, destroying four out of five blocks of three-bedroom flats. The blaze, which started from solar panels on the roof, was reported around 1 p.m., with no lives lost. Emergency teams from multiple agencies quickly responded to contain the damage.
The incident occurred at 13 Nelson Mandela Street in the upscale Asokoro district of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. According to Nkechi Isa, Head of Public Affairs at the Federal Emergency Management Department (FEMD), the fire began on the roof of one building due to solar panels and rapidly spread to adjacent structures.
Monday Addie, who heads FEMD's Search and Rescue Team, reported the emergency at approximately 1 p.m. 'No life was lost to the incident. However, the four affected flats were totally burned,' Isa quoted Addie as saying in an official statement. The destruction extended to residents' household items, including furniture, clothing, food supplies, and other personal belongings.
Response efforts involved coordinated action from several agencies. Personnel from FEMD, the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and FCT Police Command arrived at the scene to extinguish the flames and prevent further spread. The property consists of five blocks of three-bedroom flats, leaving only one unscathed.
Senator Sani Yerima, a former governor of Zamfara State and current senator, has been associated with the residence, though details on his occupancy at the time remain unclear from available reports. This event underscores ongoing challenges with fire safety in urban areas, particularly involving renewable energy installations like solar panels. No further injuries or casualties were reported, and investigations into the cause are underway.
