Fire Kills 3-weeks Old Baby and 6 Others In Lagos

Tempers flared on Wednesday on Obele Lawanson Community, Surulere, Lagos, after a family of seven died in a fire disaster. The victims, who lived on 23, Michael Ogun Street, died because their co-tenants did not make effort to rescue them when they called out for help. 
The victims of the disaster were: 28-year-old Kelechi Onoja; his wife, 18-year-old Nkiru; their one year and eight months old first child, Favour; their three weeks unnamed second baby boy; two yet-to-be-identified family members; and Nkiru’s 80-year-old mother. The only survivor was six-year-old Chidinma, a relative, who sustained burns injuries to her face and hands.
The landlord of the house is late, while his immediate son lived in the Ijesha area.
The landlord’s grandson, Abdul Jelili, who lives opposite the apartment, said, “I was sleeping when I heard a noise and quickly rushed out. I saw smoke coming out of their apartment and quickly got a stick, with which I broke their toilet window. Smoke billowed out, but I did not hear any movement in the house and could not tell if anybody was in. All the tenants in the other apartments did not come out, so I had to rush out to call for help.”
Another resident, Ejike Okpara, explained that the neighbours did not help because there was animosity among the five tenants in the house.
He said Nkiru had been accused of not greeting the other tenants, among other issues, which had caused series of fight in the neighbourhood.
He said, “So, when the fire began, the neighbours from both sides did not come out. When they finally came out, it was to rescue their families.”
But a tenant, Uzor Alajemba, said he had to first rescue his family when he heard someone raise the alarm.
A man, who claimed to be part of the rescue, Chima Dimkpa, explained that the burglar-proof bars made rescue difficult.
It was learnt that the grandma had used a candle light to bathe the baby in the night, and forgot to put it off.
It was reported that after burning out, the fire ignited the table and engulfed the room. The 80-year-old woman was burnt to death.
Kelechi, who had also woken up with other members of the family, reportedly called for help.
He was said to have held tightly to the two sisters, while his wife carried their boy in her hand. They were burnt to death together.
Dimkpa said, “We could have rescued them but for the bars. Everything was smoking hot and untouchable, including the wall.”
This is very sad. May Their gentle souls rest in peace and may God grant the family and friends of the deceased the fortitude to bear this great loss.

The corpses being taken away


Late Mr. Kelechi Onoja
sourse: http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/fire-kills-family-of-seven-in-lagos-apartment/