Three-year-old Emmanuel Samson of
Sosanya Street, Ifako, Gbagada, Lagos State, and his two months old
sister, Rosemary Samson, have been burnt to death.
Sosanya Street, Ifako, Gbagada, Lagos State, and his two months old
sister, Rosemary Samson, have been burnt to death.
The victims were reportedly killed by a stove fire in their parents’ one-room apartment around 10pm on Monday.
It was learnt that their father, Otunimi
Samson, had not returned from work at the time of the incident, while
their mother, Mercy Samson, was said to have gone to buy sugar at a shop
on the street.
Samson, had not returned from work at the time of the incident, while
their mother, Mercy Samson, was said to have gone to buy sugar at a shop
on the street.
Mercy reportedly locked up the children inside the room.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the woman, after buying the sugar, went to another shop to visit a friend for about 30 minutes.
It was gathered that she was at the shop when neighbours rushed to call her that the apartment was on fire.
Our correspondent was told that
officials of the Lagos State Fire Service from the Ilupeju Fire Station
joined the residents in putting out the fire.
officials of the Lagos State Fire Service from the Ilupeju Fire Station
joined the residents in putting out the fire.
PUNCH Metro, who visited the affected apartment on Tuesday, saw burnt clothes, a damaged stove and a burnt pot of rice.
The apartment was a makeshift plank structure attached to a building.
The parents were not on the ground while most of the neighbours had also gone to work on Tuesday.
However, a neighbour, Kehinde Jay, said the incident was avoidable.
He said it was a resident who was returning from work that noticed smoke billowing from the apartment and raised the alarm.
Jay explained that residents rushed to
rescue the children, adding that the door was locked. He said Emmanuel
screamed for help as the fire raged.
rescue the children, adding that the door was locked. He said Emmanuel
screamed for help as the fire raged.
Jay said, “Iya Emmanuel (Mercy) went out
to buy sugar and went to her friend in a shop on the street. A
resident, who was returning from work, said he saw flames and heard
Emmanuel screaming. He tried to open the door, but failed. He then came
to call me and other neighbours.
to buy sugar and went to her friend in a shop on the street. A
resident, who was returning from work, said he saw flames and heard
Emmanuel screaming. He tried to open the door, but failed. He then came
to call me and other neighbours.
“When we got there, the fire had
escalated and we could not open the door. I was outside when the woman
was going out and I thought that she was back, not knowing that she was
with her friend on the street. Emmanuel tried to open the door, but the
door was locked.
escalated and we could not open the door. I was outside when the woman
was going out and I thought that she was back, not knowing that she was
with her friend on the street. Emmanuel tried to open the door, but the
door was locked.
“Her husband returned home drunk and for
some time, he was not aware of the incident. It was later that he
started lamenting the deaths.”
some time, he was not aware of the incident. It was later that he
started lamenting the deaths.”
Jay explained further that when Mercy returned, she said she was delayed where she went to buy the sugar.
He said, “When the Divisional Police
Officer of the Ifako station asked her why she did not go with the baby,
she said she was not in a mood to answer any question. She later said
it was the woman who sold sugar to her that delayed her.”
Officer of the Ifako station asked her why she did not go with the baby,
she said she was not in a mood to answer any question. She later said
it was the woman who sold sugar to her that delayed her.”
Another resident, Remi Ladipo, said the couple “disappeared” from the area shortly after the incident.
“Iya Emmanuel is in her early 20s. Emmanuel was three-year-old, while his sister was just two months old,” he added.
The Director, Lagos State Fire Service,
Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, said a preliminary investigation indicated that the
bed, on which the baby was laid, caught fire from a burning stove in the
apartment.
Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, said a preliminary investigation indicated that the
bed, on which the baby was laid, caught fire from a burning stove in the
apartment.
Fadipe urged residents to avoid cooking
near inflammable household items, noting that a distress call should be
promptly put across to the agency whenever there was a fire incident.
near inflammable household items, noting that a distress call should be
promptly put across to the agency whenever there was a fire incident.
He said, “It was suspected that the
mother was cooking in the house. The stove was close to the bed which
was consumed by the fire. When a foam mattress goes up in flames, it is
very injurious to health. The fumes it produces are very toxic. That
could have led to inhalation of toxic fumes by the children.
mother was cooking in the house. The stove was close to the bed which
was consumed by the fire. When a foam mattress goes up in flames, it is
very injurious to health. The fumes it produces are very toxic. That
could have led to inhalation of toxic fumes by the children.
“People should stop cooking in living
rooms. It is very dangerous. Even when you cook in a kitchen, make sure
flammable materials are not close to the naked light. When you are
cooking, you don’t leave it unattended to. The mother of the deceased
was not at home when the apartment was gutted by fire.”
rooms. It is very dangerous. Even when you cook in a kitchen, make sure
flammable materials are not close to the naked light. When you are
cooking, you don’t leave it unattended to. The mother of the deceased
was not at home when the apartment was gutted by fire.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, said the corpses of the children had been deposited in a morgue.
“Investigation is ongoing into the incident,” he added.