Over 70 Displaced In Lagos Fire Disaster

Over 70 people have been displaced as fire razed three buildings at Ijesa area of Lagos. As victims of the disaster mourn the tragic incident and worry about where they would lay their heads, state governor, Babatunde Fashola ordered that the Agbowa relief camp, Ikorodu be opened for the displaced victims. The fire disaster was said to have occurred at about 3:00 p.m. on Monday and razed the three buildings on Nos. 34,35 & 36 Obi Osa Street, Off Baruwa Bus Stop, Ijesa, destroying property worth several millions. Confirming the incident, Information officer of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, told Vanguard, yesterday, that three houses were razed by the inferno and one person sustained injury while trying to escape the scene. According to him, the fire disaster may have occurred due to electrical surge. He added, “when we arrived at the scene, the electricity was still on. Immediately we noticed this, we called the authorities in charge of power supply in the area to disconnect the power supply to the area.” The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed the action of the state governor, saying that the agency was prompt in responding to the fire out-break through the Local Emergency Management Committee in Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area. Oke-Osanyintolu said LASEMA, as the first responder came to the scene to complement the work of the local emergency management committee. He said investigation was on-going to ascertain the cause of the fire. “The fire incident resulted in displaced people. As a consequence of this, the governor has directed that the Lagos State Relief Camp in Agbowa be opened. “LASEMA has therefore commenced the evacuation of the Internally Displaced People, IDP, to the Agbowa Relief Camp as directed by the governor of the state,” he said. Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency had begun the enumeration of the displaced persons and would relocate them to the camp anytime from now.