By Kelvin Obambon
The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed that no lives were lost in a major fire outbreak that razed the Akim Timber Market located beside the Police Barracks in Calabar on Friday night.
The inferno, which reportedly began at approximately 8:30 PM on March 27, 2026, destroyed goods and properties valued at millions of naira, primarily consisting of timber and construction materials.
According to a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, on Saturday, preliminary investigations suggest the fire was triggered by an electrical fault.
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“Preliminary reports indicate that the fire allegedly started from a spark originating from the public power supply within the market,” Eitokpah stated.
He stated that the Commissioner of Police, CP Rashid Afegbua personally coordinated the emergency response, deploying patrol teams and tactical units to the scene immediately after the report was received. “The operation was a collaborative effort involving the Nigeria Police Force, the Cross River State Fire Service, and the University of Calabar Fire Service.”
“The combined teams fought the flames for several hours, successfully preventing the fire from spreading to the adjacent Police Barracks. The fire was eventually extinguished at about 1:55 AM on Saturday, March 28.”
While the financial toll is expected to be significant due to the nature of the combustible materials stored at the market, the police expressed relief that there were no fatalities or injuries recorded.
“Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident,” the PPRO confirmed. “However, goods and properties, mainly timber and other materials, valued at millions of naira were destroyed.”
The Command has officially commenced an investigation to determine the full extent of the damage and confirm the exact cause of the spark.
In the wake of the incident, the police have issued an advisory to the general public regarding fire safety. ASP Eitokpah noted: “The Command urges members of the public to adhere strictly to fire safety measures, especially in markets and other public places, to prevent such occurrences.”
“Further developments regarding the investigation are expected to be communicated as they arise,” the statement added.
