80-year old man burnt to dead as fire razes building

The burnt building

Kazeem Ugbodaga

An 80-year old man was on Tuesday burnt to death as fire razed a one story building at Surulere area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

It was gathered that the octogenarian, Godwin Oyia was in the house when the fire razed the building at No 5 Aborishade Close, Lawanson, Surulere.

General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Michael Akindele said the agency received a distress call on Tuesday morning which prompted the immediate activation of the agency’s Emergency Response Team, ERT to the scene of the incident.

He said investigation carried out by the ERT at the scene of the incident revealed that a boiling ring was being used in the last room on the top floor, which led to the outbreak of fire that engulfed the whole building.

The remains of the octogenarian being gathered

“Unfortunately, a man aged 80 years old identified as Godwin Oyia lost his life to the inferno as he was burnt dead in the room where the fire started from. The entire top floor of the building was completely burnt down, however the down floor was salvaged by the combined efforts of the agency’s ERT, the Nigeria Red Cross and the Lagos State Fire Service from Isolo, Alausa and Ilupeju Divisions.

“The Agency’s ERT, Nigerian Red Cross, Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Fire Service were responders at the scene of the incident. The dead body was recovered by the agency ERT and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force,” he stated.

Akindele said proper investigation would be conducted on the incident, advising Lagosians to ensure safety by switching off all electrical appliances when not in use at home or in the office.