Ajegunle hell
• 2 fires in one day, 1 life lost, 95 buildings razed
By GILBERT EKEZIE
Saturday, February 9, 2008

•Some of the razed buildings Photo: Sun News Publishing

Living index

Streets of Ajegunle, the headquarters of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State turned into mourning arena in reaction to what can be described as a high rate fire disaster that occurred at two different areas in the local government on the same day, Sunday, January 27, 2008.

The first fire which was seen by many as one of the worst ever in the history of fire disaster in Nigeria, happened at Banana Estate near Oyedeji street, Surulere Community in Ifelodun Council Development Centre of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government.

Investigations revealed that the fire started around 3pm, caused by a heap of refuse being burnt by one of the residents near a wooden house.

Saturday Sun learnt that the fire from the refuse ignited the house and extended to others and efforts made by residents and sympathizers to quench the fire proved futile, as it burnt with full force due to the fact that majority of the houses in the area were constructed with wood.
In all, more than 90 houses were razed by the fire including Schools, Churches and Mosques.
One of the victims, Mr. Adesola Salami who is the Chairman of the community expressed shock over the extent of damage caused by the fire.

He said how the fire started and ended remained a mirage, as all efforts by the community to stop it failed.
Adesola whose private school building was razed by the fire said though no life was lost, property worth millions of Naira were damaged.
He expressed concern on the condition of thousands of victims of the fire, who have no where to lay their heads.
“I do not know what we are going to do, we lost almost every thing we have, important documents, cash and other property.

Majority of the victims are hanging around because they do not have anywhere to go. In fact, it was a disaster” he said.
On the efforts made by the fire service to stop the fire, Adesola said the presence of fire fighters was not felt while the fire lasted.
As at the time of filing this report, officials from the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning, both from Apapa and Amuwo Odofin districts have visited the scene and advised victims to keep off the burnt buildings to avoid being trapped.

In another fire that occurred on the same day at Aroworade street, off Okoye street, Ajegunle at about 9pm, three houses were razed, and a child died as property worth millions of naira were lost in the inferno.
Houses affected are on Numbers 12, 14 and 16 of the street.
Our investigations also revealed that the fire started from a wooden house, on No 16 in a room occupied by an “Okada Rider’ who parked two motorcycles and a generator in his one room apartment.

We learnt that the man’s wife wanted to light a stove in the room and the generator caught fire and spread to the two motorcycles in the same room.
According to a victim, Mr. Fred Oguwe who works with Nigerian Ports Authority, neighbours and sympathizers could not put off the fire immediately due to lack of water.

Another victim, Mr. Douglas Ojoh who teaches at Okorogbo Primary School Ajegunle, expressed bitterness on the damage caused by the fire as most victims lost all their belongings, including certificates and other important documents.

Meanwhile, victims of the disaster have called on state, local government, voluntary organizations and individuals to assist them in order to start life afresh.