A tragic fire incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, leading to the loss of three family members—a husband, his wife, and their grandson—in the Ori-Eru area of Idikan, Ibadan. The devastating incident has left the community in deep mourning.
The fire engulfed the upper floor of a residential-storey building, causing severe damage and a tragic loss of life. The incident has drawn significant attention, highlighting the dangers of fire outbreaks in residential areas.
Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, revealed that the fire department was alerted at exactly 3:46 a.m. through a distress call from a concerned resident named Hassan. In response to the emergency, firefighters were dispatched immediately to the scene and worked tirelessly to contain and extinguish the blaze.
“Upon arrival, we discovered that the upper floor of a six-room residential storey building was completely ablaze. Our team swiftly swung into action, and we successfully extinguished the fire,” Akinyinka stated. Despite the efforts of the firefighters, the tragic incident claimed the lives of three family members, while five others were rescued alive from the inferno.
Preliminary investigations suggested that the family might have been attempting to keep warm using a naked flame, which is believed to have started the fire after they fell asleep. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with open flames and improper heating methods during cold periods.
While the upper floor of the building was extensively damaged, the ground floor and neighboring properties were successfully salvaged from the disaster, preventing additional loss of property. The quick response of the firefighters was instrumental in limiting the extent of the damage.
Security personnel, including a police team led by CSP Olaniyan Jibola from Mapo Division, and an Amotekun team led by Mr. Gbenga Akinyemi from the North West Division, were present at the scene to maintain order and support the rescue operations. Their combined efforts ensured the safety of other residents and the containment of the situation.
The tragic incident has sparked conversations about fire safety awareness, emphasizing the need for vigilance and proper safety measures to prevent future occurrences.
