Mrs. Morenike Ilorin never knew that danger was lurking around the corner in form of death for her three children when she set out for their church’s weekly service on Tuesday, November 11.
With her eight-months-old daughter, Darasimi, strapped on her back, she set out for the church around 5 pm with two of her other children, Ayomide Daniel, 10, Temilola 5, tagging along. She is a strong member of the Celestial Church of Christ, who worships at the Ago Palace Way Okota, Lagos branch of the church.
Morenike and her family live at block 56 Jakande Estate, Mile 2, not far from her place of worship. After church service which lasted till about 8 pm, she was said to have stayed behind to see the pastor and head of the local branch. Weekly Trust reliably learnt that she had complained that she woke up that day with “strange feelings hanging like a blanket over her.”
At the end of a brief prayer session, she headed back home with her tired children clinging to her as they hurried to join one of the numerous commercial tricycles also known as ‘Keke Marwa’ that operate in the area. They were said to have arrived home between 8.30 pm and 9 pm. There was no light at the time they returned.
The 34-year-old mother of three lives on the top floor of a three storey building. She climbed up the flight of stairs with Ayomide and Temilola tagging along. With the help of her mobile phone flash-light, she lit the staircase so her children could climb without any difficulty. While inside her flat, the two eldest children coiled on the chair, while Morenike kept her eight-months-old daughter on another. She was said to have lit up the house with a candle and headed down stairs to remove her children’s washed clothes which she spread to dry early that fateful day. The tired kids fell asleep immediately they laid their heads on the chair.
This was apparently the situation before her entire world started crashing. Morenike, a petty trader, was still down stairs when suddenly her entire flat was engulfed by fire trapping her three helpless children. At first, the she did not know that the golden colour of the inferno she saw from where she stood was indeed from her flat. She almost ran mad when the import of what was happening suddenly dawned on her.
As at Thursday morning, the tragedy that befell her family was still being discussed in hushed tones by residents of the estate.
Weekly Trust reliably learnt that the three young children of the same parents were actually roasted in the late night fire that razed block 56, Amuwo Odofin Housing Estate, Mile 2, Lagos. Six other people, including the father of the children, sustained various degrees of injuries as they attempted to douse the fire.
There were conflicting reports of the actual cause of the fire. While some of occupants of the block of flats said it started from a cooking stove, others attributed it to the candle lit by the mother and kept on a wooden table before she went down stairs. Some residents said the window blinds might have caught fire from the candle-light. They argued that the speed with which the fire spread to the roof was too fast, adding that it could only have come from the window blinds to have reached the ceiling that fast. An occupant of the affected block of flats, who identified himself as Gabriel Omamoghu, told Weekly Trust that since there was no light, most residents were outside relaxing when the incident occurred.
“This was around 9.30 pm, when suddenly someone shouted fire, fire from an adjourning block. I quickly mobilised some youths in the area to attack the fire. Area boys from Mile 2 garage were also helpful as we all attacked the fire from all ends,” he explained.
“By this time we never knew that the three children were sleeping inside because I saw the mother and her children when they came back from church,” Omamoghu added. He noted that as the fire raged, he and some youths climbed the roof of the building, using scaffolding carrying an overhead water tank, as ladder.
“We started emptying gallons upon gallons of water onto the fire, but the intensity of the inferno was so much that we had no other choice than to climb down for fear of our lives. This, we did when the roof of the flat where the fire started caved in. By this time it had spread to the flat opposite. At this stage, we decided to fight the fire from down stairs, at least to save the other floors from being razed. It was when I came down stairs that I realised that the children were sleeping inside,” he said, fighting back tears.
Omamoghu, who was visibly angry at the attitude of the chairmen of the blocks, stated that realising what had happened he raced upstairs with the father of the children behind him.
“The father of the victims had just returned from work when he noticed that his flat was on fire, coupled with the sight of his wife screaming for help. We arrived in his flat at about the same period. He forced his way into what was one time his sitting room, but the fire was so much that there was little or nothing we could do to remedy the situation. The next thing I saw was that the man fell face down. When I moved close to him, I discovered that he had fainted,” he added.
“Those children were too innocent to suffer such tragic death. I personally brought out the remains of the victims. Their hands and legs were completely burnt. Ayomide was still closely holding his 8-months- old sister when I brought him out. I now know why he was holding his kid sister, he had gone to carry the baby when the fire caught up with them,” Omamoghu said.
He explained that it took officials of both the federal and state fire service over two hours to arrive the scene: “When they eventually arrived the scene, the fire men started asking us if we have a ladder. One even said that they did not come with enough water.”
The neighbour and some policemen from Area E, FESTAC took the bodies to the morgue at Yaba.
“At the morgue, it was indeed a different scenario. The mortuary attendants demanded N5000 each before they would accept the bodies. I begged them but they refused, I even told them that I am not the father of the children. They only agreed to accept the corpses after I promised to deposit my phones with them,” Omamoghu. The hospital officials later gave him back his phones after he promised to send them their money the next day.
“The reason why I am angry at the so-called executive members of the Community Development Association is that when the police demanded for money for petrol I told the chairman to let us have some money from the association’s purse and he refused, saying that it was the responsibility of the parents of the victims,” he stated.
Another witness who identified herself as Easter Esiorho, said that both husband and wife were rushed to their church by neighbors, adding that Ayomide was the only son of his parents. “‘I am shocked because the Darasimi was like my child,” she said.
When Weekly Trust visited the place, the occupants of the affected blocks were seen moving out their belongings for fear that the building might collapse. The entrance to some of the flats, particularly those on the ground floor, were locked, an indication that the owners may have moved out. Sympathisers were seen in groups of twos and threes discussing the incident. The wires connecting electricity supply to the flat had been removed.
Confirming the report, Ibrahim Farinloye, south-west public relations officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), advised members of the public to be more careful when dealing with inflammable items.
Lagos State police public relations officer, Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, who confirmed the incident, said that the bodies of the victims had since been deposited at the mortuary.
Nwosu, a deputy superintendent of police, in a text message said: “At about 11pm Tuesday, fire gutted block 5&6, Jakande Estate, Mile 2. The fire was put out by team of policemen and fire fighters who mobilised to the scene. Three children of one Mrs. Philips locked up in one of the buildings were burnt to death. The cause of fire and value of properties destroyed are yet to be known.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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So sad, may the holy spirit console you and your family and replace all you lost again
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