Five die in Lagos as 3 bedroom flat catches fire

An early morning inferno on Wednesday claimed the lives of five persons living in Shagari Estate, Musan, in Musan-Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State.

The victims were identified as one Aunty Philo, Mrs. Anwuzia and her three children Ekene (16), Emeka (7) and Nwike (30). The mother of three, whose husband, a pastor, was said to have travelled to Aba, reportedly returned from a church programme in Ghana the previous day.

According to eye witness accounts the fire started at about 1.15 am in a three-bedroom flat located on 9, CH Street from where it spread to the entire building. Aunty Philo alerted neighbours with the shout of fire but before she could be rescued the roof collapsed on her, burning her beyond recognition.

Efforts by youths in the area to salvage the situation failed.

“We saw Aunty Philo trying to force the burglary proof open but she could not. At that time, we tried to break the wall to rescue her when all of a sudden the roof fell on her,” a witness said. “When we eventually succeeded in pulling down the burglary proof, we saw roasted members of the family on the floor. We could not do anything again but had to leave because of thick smoke.”

Firemen were said to have arrived the scene later and succeeded in putting out the fire, but the harm had been done.

Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, confirmed the death of five persons, adding that the family of four died from suffocation. He said the remains of the deceased have been handed over to the police.

“We had to mobilise a truck of 10,000 litres water capacity from Ikotun to the scene. On reaching there, the fire was still on. Because of the magnitude, we had to mobilise another truck from Agege with another 10,000 litres to compliment the first one, before the fire was contained.

“Unfortunately, we saw the charred remains of the victims. We saw four of them and later discovered the fifth one. We handed the corpses to policemen who also arrived the scene.”

Fadipe speculated that the fire might have been caused by a candle because there was no power supply in the area as at the time the fire started.