A 3-week old baby, three children, their parents were all burnt to death yesterday in a fire outbreak that broke out at their home located at Lawanson, Surulere area of Lagos metropolis.
Others were the visiting mother-in- law and one of the two kids she brought along with her, while the second kid is the only survivor. The survivor is said to be receiving treatment at the Trauma and Burns Centre of the Gbagada General Hospital.
The grandmother was said to have come from Enugu State for the dedication of the onemonth- old baby, which was yet to hold. The fire also destroyed property and other valuables worth millions of naira.
At press time, investigations were still ongoing to ascertain the cause of the inferno which occurred about 11.35pm at 21, Michael Ogun Street, Obele, Lawanson. But, residents in the area suggested that the fire might have started from candlelight and spread from the living room to the kitchen and the bedroom.
Baale of Surulere, Chief Kareem Awoyemi, told our correspondent at the scene of the disaster that he was informed of the incident about 3am.
He said: “I heard people knocking at my gate around 3am; I decided to open another exit door to see them. They said it was fire which had claimed seven members of a family. “When I reached there, there was nothing to do again since they were dead already.
We contributed money to take the only survivor to the hospital.” On the cause of the fire, the community leader said the flat was disconnected from electricity. The family, according to him, was not using generator then candlelight was the only plausible cause.
A youth leader in the area, Prince Anthony Emenanor, said neighbours did not assist the deceased when they were shouting for help. He said: “I have not seen such a thing before. Even if enmity and quarrel existed between them and their neighbours, they were supposed to assist them just to save lives.
They shouted for help, no one came to assist them. The only help came from people far away who heard the shouting.” A police source from Area ‘C,’ Surulere, who also confirmed the incident, said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area, CSP Monday Agbonika, had been at the scene since the fire incident was reported. “The DPO directed that many policemen be dispatched to the area.
He also requested officers from Itire Police Station to come to the scene to avoid outbreak of violence.” The victims’ bodies were removed by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Monitoring Unit (SEMU).
However, the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, said five persons died in the incident. He said: “Five persons – father, mother, grandmother, a baby and a girl – were consumed by fire at No. 21, Michael Ogun Street, Obele, Lawanson.”
It is believed that the family members could not escape as the burglaries in their house became too hot they couldn't touch them. So sad. May their soul rest in peace Amen.
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