Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has inaugurated a 7-man committee to investigate the recent fire incident at the Umuehilegbu Industrial Market popularly known as Bakassi Line in Aba with a charge to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the fire outbreak and the attack on Fire Service personnel on a rescue mission to the market.
Speaking while inaugurating the investigative committee at Government House, Umuahia, Dr. Ikpeazu listed their terms of reference to include investigating and advising the government on ways to avert a reoccurrence.
The Governor represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, while decrying the increase in the spate of fire incidents in parts of the state with its attendant loss of lives and property, maintained that government is particularly not happy with the development that occurred at the Industrial Market and the subsequent attack on Fire Service personnel, hence, the setting up of the committee.
The committee which has 3 weeks to submit its report has the Honourable Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Barr Suleiman Ukandu, as its Chairman, the Honourable Commissioner for Homeland Security, Prince Dan Okoli, as Secretary, while the Deputy Commissioner for Police (Operations), Chief Mba O. Ukariwo, the T.C Chairman of Osisioma Ngwa LGA, Dr. Ikechukwu Nwabeke, the Acting T.C Chairman of Aba North LGA, Mrs. Joy and Mr. John Emejor will serve as members.
Responding on behalf of other members of the committee, the Chairman, Barr Suleiman Ukandu commended the state government for setting up the committee pledging that the committee would do a thorough job to assist the government in dealing with the issues appropriately.
