By: Austine Emmanuel
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, has said that the fire incidence that damaged it facilities worth over hundred million naira in Katari, Kaduna on Monday, is as a result of insecurity due to bad governance.
The Rector, St. Peters Minor Seminary, Katari, Kaduna Rev. Fr. Sati Edward stated this during an inspection exercise carried out on the site on thursday, said the school relocated her Students to Kafanchan and Zaria respectively for over two years now because of insecurity attacks.
He noted that the incidence would not have happened if the students are in the hostel, adding that the school management deemed it necessary to relocate the students, same way commuters are seeking refuge in towns, deserting their homes because of banditry attacks.
It could be recalled that the Nigeria Catholic Network reported the fire incidence on Monday in a press release signed by its Archdiocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Christian Emmanuel, who said that two dormitories, a dining hall, a kitchen, and a laboratory were razed by fire at the St. Peter’s Minor Seminary, Katari, situated on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.
Recounting the looses, Fr. Sati said that “no life was lost, but for naira and Kobo we can only postulate. In Nigeria now, to put up a building like this alongside the equipments will cost you more than hundred million naira.”
While the cause of incidence could not be ascertained, the priest noted that there was a burning bush behind the fence which could have metamorphorsed and crept into the facility due to the hamartan season.
Mr. John Woje, who is the Education Secretary, Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, lamented that they have been able to save the lives of their children from being kidnapped by bandits but could not save themselves from the unforseen circumstances.
He stressed that it would require a lot of money to bring back the facilities to it’s functional state, while appealing to organizations and well meaning Nigerians to come to their aid.
John disclosed that the properties are insured, meanwhile they have come to inspect the level of damage after which the Archdiocese will contact the insurance company to come down and carryout their own inspections.
In his remarks, the head of delegation and Director of Social Communication, Kaduna Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Stephen Onyeama said a lot of laboratory equipments were burnt down alongside hostel beds, matrass, fans among other things.
Onyeama reiterated that “we have lost many things and we are appealing to everybody not just Christians, not just Catholics but every individual including the Federal and state government and those who supports education in this country to see what they can do in other to bring back this Place to her feet once more, so that once the insecurity situation is over the students can come back and continue with their studies.
“What we are appealing for now is fund to see how the structures can come in place. We will be needing new structures not even renovation once that is done then I believe other things will follow.” He said.