Saint Mary's Catholic Cathedral Completely Destroyed by Devastating Fire

St. Mary Catholic Cathedral in Wukari, Nigeria, which serves as the headquarters of the Catholic Diocese of Wukari in the north-east, was consumed a devastating fire despite desperate efforts by residents and church members to save the building. It occurred on March 4th and was an accident. This was announced by the Diocese of Wukari in a statement signed by the Chancellor, Father Simon Akuraga, and sent to Fides.

According to the diocese's reconstruction of the incident, the fire broke out when members of the cathedral choir had just concluded midweek rehearsals and left the church, where only a priest and two people gathered in prayer remained. Suddenly, the priest noticed an electrical spark on the ceiling, and immediately afterward, the flames erupted. Despite the smoke that instantly filled the room, the priest managed to remove the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle and then rushed outside to call for help.
"Unfortunately, all efforts by parishioners and other concerned individuals to contain the raging fire proved in vain," the statement reads. "With the exception of the Blessed Sacrament, few altar chairs, some musical instruments, few liturgical vestments and vessels that were rescued; all the other things were completely consumed by the inferno, leaving only the walls standing." "We sincerely appreciate the quick response and support of every one who assisted during the emergency. We equally appreciate all those who showed solidarity to the diocese through their prayers and words of encouragement," the statement concludes. 
St. Mary’s Cathedral holds special significance for the diocese, as it was the venue where Most Rev. Mark Nzukwein was consecrated and installed as the first Bishop of Wukari Diocese on April 13, 2023.
The destruction of the cathedral has caused deep sorrow among Catholic faithful and the wider Christian community in the area, many of whom gathered helplessly as the fire consumed the historic place of worship.
The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, and authorities are expected to begin investigations to determine what led to the incident.