Blaze Destroys St. Mary Catholic Cathedral in Taraba

A devastating fire has resulted in the destruction of St. Mary Catholic Cathedral located in Wukari, Taraba State.

Reports indicate that the fire, which occurred on Wednesday night, completely obliterated the church's structure.

Fr. John Laikei, who serves as the Director of Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Wukari, mentioned that the blaze erupted shortly after power was restored in the area surrounding the church.

He characterized this incident as a significant setback for the diocese, remarking that church members remain in disbelief regarding the occurrence.

Fr. Laikei further noted that the specific cause of the fire has not yet been identified, but emphasized the timing coinciding with the electricity restoration. He added that authorities are still assessing the damage that has been incurred due to the fire.

Witnesses revealed that the absence of functional fire service vehicles in Wukari exacerbated the situation, leaving church members powerless to intervene as the fire ravaged the entire building.

This incident at St. Mary Catholic Cathedral occurred just a month after a similar fire incident destroyed the Wukari Local Government Secretariat. Additionally, multiple fire outbreaks have been reported in Jalingo, the state capital, in January, February, and March, impacting shops, markets, and residential buildings.

Fortunately, there were no casualties resulting from these incidents. Earlier, Daily Trust reported that Governor Agbu Kefas had established a committee aimed at addressing the persistent issue of fire outbreaks in Jalingo and other regions within the state.