LAGOS—Two
persons were confirmed dead in an early morning fire incident, which razed over
100 shanties in Kuramo, near Lekki in Lagos yesterday. When Vanguard visited
the scene, the two victims were identified as Azeez, a 27-year-old trader and a
lady, simply identified as Kemi.
Though there
were conflicting reports as to what led to the fire disaster, which the
Secretary of the Community, Mr. Michael Onuwaje, said destroyed property worth
over N50 million as “it cost N500,000 to construct each of the burnt
structures.” While some report noted that the inferno was caused by a
generating set, another report said that a young lady was cooking in one of the
shanties with a fuel container nearby, which caught fire and spread to other
parts. The residents lamented that the fire spread so fast that many could not
salvage their property as they explained that the fire was beyond their reach.
I lost N3m to the inferno—Trader A trader, Jude Obi, who owns two of the
affected structures, lamented that he lost N3 million including a cabin and the
goods stocked in it.
According to him, “I was sleeping when I heard a bang on
my door, with someone saying the entire community was on fire. I rushed out
immediately and I could not take a pin from the shop. “My shop is well stocked
with cloths. This is where most of us manage to make a living and now it is
gone. I just pray we will not be evicted by Lagos State Government. I could not
salvage a cloth from my shop. I don’t know where to start—Resident Another
resident, who gave his name as Mr. Michael Orioye, told Vanguard in an
emotional tone: “I have been living here for decades. This is where we live and
sell to make a living. We are not selling illegal commodities. “We need
government to help us. We have children; we have wives. Everyone depends on us.
If only we can be given a permanent space. We are not saying we want permanent
structures. If only we can be given allocation.” Fire extinguishers couldn’t
save us—Secretary Secretary to the Community, Onuwaje, said: “I learnt someone
was refuelling a generator that was on when it exploded. Before the fire
service officials came, some young men managed to put out the fire. “Every shop
here has a five-kilogramme fire extinguisher. Unfortunately, they were meant
for first aid. It is a pity we lost two lives. “Late Azeez was a trader here,
but I do not know the girl involved. I called Ilasan Police Station, who took
the bodies away. It was a big loss. We cannot count our losses. “I was able to
salvage a plasma television from a cabin.” Confirming the inferno, Director,
Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, said that the fire destroyed over
100 shanty structures, killing a male and female adults who reside in the
community. He said the shanties were built on three acres of land, with the
fire consuming houses on about four plots. The fire service boss appealed to
Lagosians to desist from storing fuel in their houses or cooking indoors apart
from the kitchen.
LAGOS—Two persons were
confirmed dead in an early morning fire incident, which razed over 100
shanties in Kuramo, near Lekki in Lagos yesterday.
When Vanguard visited the scene, the two victims were identified as
Azeez, a 27-year-old trader and a lady, simply identified as Kemi.
fireThough there were conflicting reports as to what led to the fire
disaster, which the Secretary of the Community, Mr. Michael Onuwaje,
said destroyed property worth over N50 million as “it cost N500,000 to
construct each of the burnt structures.”
While some report noted that the inferno was caused by a generating set,
another report said that a young lady was cooking in one of the
shanties with a fuel container nearby, which caught fire and spread to
other parts.
The residents lamented that the fire spread so fast that many could not
salvage their property as they explained that the fire was beyond their
reach.
I lost N3m to the inferno—Trader
A trader, Jude Obi, who owns two of the affected structures, lamented
that he lost N3 million including a cabin and the goods stocked in it.
According to him, “I was sleeping when I heard a bang on my door, with
someone saying the entire community was on fire. I rushed out
immediately and I could not take a pin from the shop.
“My shop is well stocked with cloths. This is where most of us manage to
make a living and now it is gone. I just pray we will not be evicted by
Lagos State Government. I could not salvage a cloth from my shop.
I don’t know where to start—Resident
Another resident, who gave his name as Mr. Michael Orioye, told Vanguard
in an emotional tone: “I have been living here for decades. This is
where we live and sell to make a living. We are not selling illegal
commodities.
“We need government to help us. We have children; we have wives.
Everyone depends on us. If only we can be given a permanent space. We
are not saying we want permanent structures. If only we can be given
allocation.”
Fire extinguishers couldn’t save us—Secretary
Secretary to the Community, Onuwaje, said: “I learnt someone was
refuelling a generator that was on when it exploded. Before the fire
service officials came, some young men managed to put out the fire.
“Every shop here has a five-kilogramme fire extinguisher. Unfortunately,
they were meant for first aid. It is a pity we lost two lives.
“Late Azeez was a trader here, but I do not know the girl involved. I
called Ilasan Police Station, who took the bodies away. It was a big
loss. We cannot count our losses.
“I was able to salvage a plasma television from a cabin.”
Confirming the inferno, Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak
Fadipe, said that the fire destroyed over 100 shanty structures, killing
a male and female adults who reside in the community.
He said the shanties were built on three acres of land, with the fire
consuming houses on about four plots.
The fire service boss appealed to Lagosians to desist from storing fuel
in their houses or cooking indoors apart from the kitchen.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/2-dead-100-shanties-razed-lagos-fire/
2 dead, 100 shanties razed in Lagos fire
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/2-dead-100-shanties-razed-lagos-fire/
2 dead, 100 shanties razed in Lagos fire
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/2-dead-100-shanties-razed-lagos-fire/
