CP Rashid Afegbua (arms akimbo) with his men at the scene of the Edibe Edibe gas explosion incident on Saturday.
By Anietie Akpan
A gas explosion on Saturday rocked a private gas station in Edibe-Edibe, Calabar South Local Government Area, leaving over 38 injured and properties worth millions destroyed.
However, no life was lost in the morning inferno that sent residents scampering for safety as at time of this report.
Another case of late arrival of fire service personnel did not help matters as so much was damaged.
Residents expressed disappointment with the attitude of firefighters in the state saying, similar fire incident occurred at IBB recently yet the fire service could not get there on time.
Michael Etim, one of the residents in Edibe Edibe fire incident said, “this is a disaster and a complete shame that there is no functional fire service in the city of Calabar. All what we have are just carcasses.
“The state government should as a matter of urgency look into this area and at the same time take a serious look at the citing of gas stations in residential areas. There should be control. Now we have lost so much”.
One of the cars burnt.
A traditional ruler residing in the area, His Royal Highness, Ekanem Esin said, he heard loud explosions and he managed to rescue his family, few things and ran out of the house for safety.
He also lamented the non-availability of fire service personnel and all efforts to get them around proved abortive except for the police that responded on time. “I don’t even know whether we have fire service in this country or not”.
Narrating the cause of the fire incident, one of the staff at the gas station told the Cross River State Command, Commissioner of Police, CP Rashid Afegbua who was at the scene on time with his men, that the fire started about 10:00 AM on 20th March 2026 and “a gas explosion occurred during an attempt to transfer gas from the storage tank to the service tank by a gas attendant.
“During the operation, the hose detached, causing gas fumes to leak into the surrounding area. All attempts to secure the storage tap were unsuccessful, and the attendant had to evacuate immediately”.
A statement from the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Sunday Eitokpah said, “the leak happened rapidly, leaving insufficient time to warn nearby residents. The area was engulfed in flames, resulting in significant property damage, the value of which is currently unquantified. Several residents sustained injuries, primarily burns. Those with serious burns have been transported to the Teaching Hospital for medical treatment.
“Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported at this time. As at now 38 victims with different degrees of burns have been evacuated to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
He confirmed that the young boy who was also burnt, has been taken to the emergency room of the hospital.
He said, “following the gas explosion incident, the Commissioner of Police, swiftly led tactical teams to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
“The prompt response of the Command ensured immediate coordination of rescue efforts, effective crowd control, and the safeguarding of lives and property. The proactive deployment of personnel and resources helped to prevent further escalation and restored calm in the affected area”.
The Cross River State Police Command remains committed to rapid response, public safety, and the protection of all residents, he assured
