There was pandemonium yesterday
evening at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, when fire outbreak was noticed at the
new conference room of the chief of army staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Azubuike
Ihejirika, at the Army Headquarters at a time most of the officers had closed
for the day.
evening at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, when fire outbreak was noticed at the
new conference room of the chief of army staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Azubuike
Ihejirika, at the Army Headquarters at a time most of the officers had closed
for the day.
The fire, according to an
eyewitness account, began from one of the air conditioners at the COAS’
conference room before it began spreading round the room.
eyewitness account, began from one of the air conditioners at the COAS’
conference room before it began spreading round the room.
A military source told LEADERSHIP,
“We were inside our office when two officers ran to alert us of the fire
outbreak from the COAS’ conference room. We ran out and I came back to order
other people out.
“We were inside our office when two officers ran to alert us of the fire
outbreak from the COAS’ conference room. We ran out and I came back to order
other people out.
We alerted the Federal Fire
Service, our neighbour, and they came with three of their fire-fighter vehicles
and, together with our own, they put the fire out.”
Service, our neighbour, and they came with three of their fire-fighter vehicles
and, together with our own, they put the fire out.”
The source disclosed that the
incident took place between 6:15pm and 7:05pm “but we thank God no life was
lost and there was no valuable document burnt”. “Another good news is that the
fire outbreak did not happen at midnight; it happened while some of our senior
officers were still around,” he stated.
incident took place between 6:15pm and 7:05pm “but we thank God no life was
lost and there was no valuable document burnt”. “Another good news is that the
fire outbreak did not happen at midnight; it happened while some of our senior
officers were still around,” he stated.
While our correspondent asked why
the whole Army Headquarters was in darkness unlike other buildings, an army
officer said, “We put it off because you never can tell the effect of the fire
outbreak and, more importantly, we want to be sure the fire has been completely
put off.”
the whole Army Headquarters was in darkness unlike other buildings, an army
officer said, “We put it off because you never can tell the effect of the fire
outbreak and, more importantly, we want to be sure the fire has been completely
put off.”
But some senior officers were
sighted discussing among themselves and rejoicing that there was no serious
effect of the fire as it did not extend beyond the COAS’ new conference room.
Among those sighted were Major General Bolaji Koleosho of the Civil-Military
Relations and Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik, the director, naval intelligence.
sighted discussing among themselves and rejoicing that there was no serious
effect of the fire as it did not extend beyond the COAS’ new conference room.
Among those sighted were Major General Bolaji Koleosho of the Civil-Military
Relations and Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik, the director, naval intelligence.
There was similar incident last
year at the Defence Headquarters: there was a fire outbreak from the restaurant
which was put off shortly after it began.
year at the Defence Headquarters: there was a fire outbreak from the restaurant
which was put off shortly after it began.
Source: Leadership
