Three sisters die as fire destroys three vehicles, eight shops in Lagos

Tragedy struck yesterday in Lagos when a fire outbreak gutted a house in Oke Afa area in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), killing three sisters and destroying properties worth millions of naira. Three vehicles, eight shops and some houses were also completely burnt in the inferno.

Although the cause of the fire could not be immediately ascertained, three sisters of ages seven, five and two who slept in one of the razed shops were said to be burnt beyond recognition. It was also gathered that there was an outbreak of fire at Travel Day Inn at Toyin Street, Ikeja, while no fewer than five shops and parts of Divine International Hotel at Owode Ajegunle were also razed by fire overnight.

Confirming the incidences, the state Director of Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, said the incident occurred overnight when many residents were asleep. According to him, the children’s mother was not in the shop where the children died. “We were told that their father doesn’t live with them and their mum was not with the kids when the fire razed the shops and consumed the kids,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Sanni Sidi, appealed to Nigerians to be safety conscious and take utmost precautionary measures against action that can cause fire outbreak. Sidi, who spoke through the agency’s South-West spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye, said some of the disasters recorded lately were preventable if only people could take safety precaution. Speaking on the incident, the vice-president of the Estate, Mr. Adedeji Gbadamosi, lamented the impact of the fire incident.

Also, the General Manager of the state Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Micheal Akindele, who inspected the incident scene, alleged that the fire outbreak was caused by a vehicle loaded with petroleum products which collided with a stationary bus. Meanwhile, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday commiserated with the family of the three children who lost their lives when fire gutted a section of some lock-up shops at Rainbow Avenue, Jakande Estate, Isolo area of the state. Three children, Christiana 12, Feranmi 8 and Pelumi 6 of the same parent lost their lives in the fire incident which occurred overnight.

Expressing deep regrets over the unfortunate incident, Ambode, who sent a delegation led by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Michael Ola-Dawodu, said the loss of any life is always painful, how much more losing three kids to a preventable fire incident. He said: “It is indeed an unfortunate incident and words cannot really express our sadness as a government over the loss of three innocent lives, who have become victims of an incident they know nothing about. It is indeed a pathetic situation and we can only express our condolence and commiserate with the bereaved family over this incident.”