Tragedy on Tuesday struck in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, as a popular hangout spot was gutted by fire.
The inferno, which razed the entire first floor of the lounge — including the general club, VIP, and VVIP sections – destroyed furniture, sound systems, and other valuables.
The incident which resulted in the destruction of items worth billions of Naira, has left the business community in shock.
Though the cause of the inferno is yet to be determined at the time of filing this report, eyewitnesses who spoke with DAILY POST suggested that the blaze may have been triggered by a sudden power surge, exacerbated by the dry weather conditions.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Professor Joseph Albasu Kunini, who is the owner of the lounge, expressed sadness at the damages.
“It is a sad development and a huge loss, but we thank God no lives were lost. We had just completed a comprehensive renovation of the lounge in preparation for our third anniversary on December 30th,” he said.
The lounge’s manager, Mr. Desmond Wee, who lamented the delayed response of the Dire Service, said the facility would have been saved if the agency responded on time.
“When the fire started, I immediately called the Fire Service, but they arrived three hours later, by which time the damage was already done,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Duchess Lounge is a popular venue for entertainment and social gatherings, and its loss is seen as a significant blow to the city’s nightlife scene.
Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the fire.
