Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has directed an investigation into a fire outbreak that destroyed properties worth millions of naira at Baybridge in the Kpansia area of Yenagoa.

The fire, which occurred on Friday, prompted a visit by the governor’s deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, who represented Diri at the affected location on Saturday.

The governor said the state government was relieved that no death was recorded despite the extent of the damage, describing the incident as regrettable.

He praised personnel of the fire service, other emergency responders and residents of the area for their prompt action, saying their intervention prevented the blaze from spreading further.

Diri said the police, the State Security Service and the Federal Fire Service would investigate the incident to determine whether it was caused by human activity or an electrical fault.

He added that electricity supply to the affected environment would be temporarily disconnected as part of safety measures pending the outcome of the investigation.

The governor’s delegation included the Comptroller of the Federal Fire Service, Mr Diton Amos, and the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, CP Daniel Iyamah.

Iyamah said police officers were deployed to the scene immediately after the command received information about the fire. He said investigations had commenced to establish the immediate and remote causes of the incident.

The Director-General of the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency, Walamam Igrubia, said officials of the agency had been assigned to document the victims and assess the items and structures destroyed by the fire.

Igrubia said the government was grateful that no life was lost, adding that the agency would work with relevant authorities to provide support to those affected.

One of the victims, Douye Josephine Yallah, who sustained injuries during the incident, said the fire started at about 9 a.m. She said valuables and other property estimated at several millions of naira were lost.

Another victim, Blessing Sobotie, said residents heard a loud sound before smoke began rising from a rooftop. She said neighbours were alerted and made efforts to contain the situation before emergency responders arrived.

An eyewitness, Pastor Ezekiel Oteibanyon, also said smoke was first noticed from the roof shortly after a loud noise was heard in the area.

Sobotie described the level of destruction as severe and appealed to the state government, public-spirited individuals and charitable organisations to assist the affected families.

Other members of the delegation were Dr Favour Akpe, wife of the deputy governor; the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe; the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr Perepuighe Biewari; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Fred Kemedei; and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Agnes Oloye.