Sawmill Fire Outbreak Claims Girl’s Life In Lagos

A fire outbreak at a sawmill in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, has allegedly claimed one life and destroyed property worth millions of Naira.

The fire broke out Tuesday night at about 9 p.m. and caused pandemonium in a settlement, popularly known as “Ebute”.

The settlement, which was filled with wooden houses, was destroyed but most of the residents escaped.

A resident, Mr Bolaji Aminu, report that a young girl died in the fire.

He alleged that the fire started when one of the residents used a lit candle while switching on a generator and the set caught fire.

Another resident, Mrs Jinadu Sulait, said that though she lost her house and property to the fire she is happy none of her family members was lost to the fire.

A police officer, Miss Bimbo Olarewaju, described the fire as a “shock,” saying that she ran away from her residence in the affected area without any valuable.

Another resident of “Ebute”, Mr Sunday Aliu, said he escaped the fire only by God’s grace.

“As you can see, I am with only my underwear on, and this is only what I have on earth now; every other thing has been burnt by the fire,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Adekunle Ademiyiwa, who lives close to the settlement, said that he called the fire service department and the police immediately he saw the fire.

“I am happy the fire service and the police responded immediately,” he said.

Ademiyiwa noted that the fire was, however, becoming a yearly incident in the settlement, and called on the state government to urgently proffer a solution to prevent a recurrence.