Fire razes Ikom Magistrate Court, destroy case files

By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR

A fierce early-morning fire on Thursday completely razed Magistrate Court 1 in Ikom LGA, Cross River State, destroying critical records, exhibits, and ongoing case files.

The inferno struck around 3:00 a.m. on April 23, 2026, engulfing the facility before firefighters contained it, Vanguard gathered.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that all he could see was ashes and debris everywhere.

“One could only see ash and debris. Everything was completely destroyed.

“This tragedy will lead to delays, retrials, or miscarriages of justice from lost files, and this is a huge hurdle.

The inferno leaves Ikom without a functional magistrate court, echoing access woes in nearby areas.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed it’s a suspected arson case.

“The prompt response of officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Ikom, in collaboration with fire service personnel, helped to contain the inferno and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.

“Although the court structure was completely destroyed, no lives were lost.

“The Commissioner of Police has directed a discreet and thorough investigation in collaboration with relevant agencies to determine the actual cause of the fire and identify those responsible,” Eitokpah said.