We can confirm that a Cross Riverian was one of those who was killed in Monday’s fire incident at the Canadian High Commission located in the Central Business District, Abuja.
Family sources in Ugep, Yakurr LGA, Cross River State, identified the deceased to www.calitown.com as Ikpi Okon Oka. Brother of the deceased, Oka Okon Oka, mourning the loss, lamented on his Facebook wall that, “Ikpi Okon Oka, has gone so soon in the Canada Embassy explosion … leaving so much tears behind for his family and friends.”
Head of Public Affairs, FCT Emergency Management Agency, Nkechi Isa, in a press statement disclosed that the incident was caused by a diesel explosion in the generator house of the Canadian Embassy.
It was further disclosed that the incident occurred on Monday at about 10:30 a.m. when a five-man team from JMD Company, went to service the Mikano generators used by the Embassy.
“A diesel tank explosion in the generator house at the Canadian Embassy in the Federal Capital Territory has left two persons dead and two hospitalized at the National Hospital Trauma Centre with severe burns.”
“One of the power-generating sets was said to be working, while the other one was being serviced. The fire occurred when the tank of diesel in the generator house, containing 2000 litres of diesel, exploded. Two of the personnel servicing the generator were fatally injured, and two people survived and are on admission at the National Hospital Trauma Centre with severe burns”, the statement read.
Eyewitnesses at the scene claim that Oka was one of the victims blown out of the generator house by the force of the explosion, while one other person had escaped through the roof.
