John Ebong Ngole and Talba Malla, Board Chairman and General Manager respectively, of the Limbe-based National Oil Refinery Corporation - SONARA, are yet to recover from the shock after they narrowly escaped death in a fire inferno allegedly set up by Ngole’s own wife, meant to kill them.
The incident happened on June 2, at about 9:30-10 a.m. at Ngole’s Guest House in Limbe; some 300-500 meters away from the premises of SONARA. Reasons for Ngole’s wife rage and action remain sketchy, but some sources have alleged that the act resulted from an earlier quarrel she had with the husband.
The Director of Public Relations and Communications at SONARA, Ngome Blasius, told the Journal that Talba Malla was not the direct target in the incident, that it was a matter of coincidence that Malla was there at the time of the incident.
Our sources say Ebong had just finished receiving Malla in his suite at the residence when the irate Ngole’s wife, barged in with a jug of petrol in her hands. Immediately she made her way into the room where the two men were sitting, she reportedly slammed the door behind her and bolted it before proceeding to empty the jug of petrol on the men and on some office supplies. She then pulled out a box of match, stroke it and lighted the room.
Ebong's Guest House suite which he has for long been using as his office was engulfed in uncontrollable combustion. It took the two men severe struggle to force-open the door for safety. Not ready to die alone, the lady also reportedly stormed out of the inflamed room and scampered away, allegedly covering a longer distance than those she intended to roast. More soon.
