By Our Chief National Correspondent Landing Badjie, Banjul.
Tragedy hits the Arab Gambia Islamic Bank, as the Bank was set ablaze this afternoon, the Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report. The fire which started at 3pm, ravaged the Arab Islamic Bank Branch at West Field. Bank documents, computers and other important valuables were burnt beyond recognition. The said Bank shared premises with the Banjul Pharmacy. Local Bank staffers ran helter-skelter to save their lives. This is the second fire incident of its kind in a span of four months.
Bank staffers and passersby watched helplessly, while the building caught on fire. There were no causalities reported at press time, but there was a significant damage to property. The Bank which has been the scene of two consecutive fire disasters, was this time around burnt beyond repairs.
Police are busy trying to establish the actual cause of the blaze, which devastated Management of the leading Bank. So far details about the actual cause of the fire are scanty. Reports linked the frequent Bank fire incidents to “terrorism.” But a spokesperson of the police tells the Freedom Newspaper that they were yet to receive conclusive reports as to the actual cause of the fire.
The police spokesperson said it was premature to dismiss the terrorism reports since the country is currently hosting many Arabs from different backgrounds. “ For security reasons, we do not want to publicly say that the fire might be as a result of terrorism. What’s evident though is that such fire disasters are not isolated incidents. This is the second time the Arab Islamic Bank has been set on fire. Yes, terrorism could be a possible cause of the incident, but as I said earlier, we haven’t received conclusive evidence to that effect. Lets give chance to the investigations.” said the police spokesperson.
The National Water and Electricity Company NAWEC, which was bought by some Lebanese investors, has been accused of ineptitude and carelessness. The firm’s failure to provide fire alarming system for consumers has been a major cause of concern. Many fires could have been avoided if NAWEC had installed the necessary equipment to alert consumers ahead of time if there is any possible fire incident.
Eyewitnesses to the incident said most of the fire disasters at the Arab Islamic Bank occurred when Bank staffers were on break. Many eyewitnesses suspect foul play. “ This could be an act of terrorism. This country is far from being safe. Since the last fire incident, the police had not published their findings. They should tell us if there are terrorists in this country. In order to avoid a national tragedy, the police should do everything in their means to bring the perpetrators to book. These are not ordinary fires. We suspect an act of terrorism.” said a bank insider.
According to a man who sells at the door steps of the Bank, such mysterious fires constantly hunts the Bank. “ The police is not doing its job as expected. Each time there is such fires, they would issue a press releases calling it minor. Why are they trying to downplay such disasters.“ he said.
Another Bank customer remarked “The police are yet to allay the public fear. It’s widely believe that terrorists are behind such fire incidents. The police should do their job in order to save public lives and properties. This is the second time the Arab Islamic Bank has been gutted.” said the petty trader.
An old man coming from Bakau in the afternoon for money was in tears, when he saw the Bank in flames as he waited for the fire to quench. Fire fighters came to the scene only after the fire had done the worst. Some say it was deliberate on the workers side that they did not report to the fire men in time.
Some Bank workers have a different view about the actual cause of the incident. They attribute it to electricity problems. But Bank insiders were not in the position to confirm to the Freedom Newspaper, if regular routine maintenance were being done to avert such disasters. They merely said they suspect that the incident might have to do with electricity problems.
The general view in many quarters is that, the incident might have to do with terrorism related cases. But police say unless the investigations are complete they cannot provide a conclusive report as to the actual cause of the fire. Investigations into the incident are currently underway.
