Tragedy struck at Ijesa area of Lagos, as fire razed three buildings, with over 70 people displaced
However, barely 24 hours after the disaster, the state governor, Babatunde Fashola ordered that the Agbowa relief camp, Ikorodu be opened for the displaced victims.
Vanguard leant that the fire disaster 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.
Information officer of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, while speaking to Vanguard, yesterday, said that three houses were razed by the inferno and one person sustained injury while trying to escape the scene.
Farinloye explained that fire disaster may have occurred due to electrical surge, saying, “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.”
Confirming the action of the state governor, the General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said 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.
The LASEMA General Manager 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.
