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.