Tragic fire claims lives of Ibadan couple, grandson
A devastating fire in the early hours of Friday claimed the lives of a husband, his wife, and their grandson in the Ori-Eru, Idikan area of Ibadan, Oyo State. The incident, which engulfed the upper floor of a six-room residential storey building, has left the community in mourning.
The General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the tragedy in a statement issued on Friday. He revealed that the agency received a distress call at 3:46 a.m. from a resident identified as Hassan and responded immediately.
“On arrival, we found the upper floor of a six-room residential storey building engulfed in flames. We swiftly swung into action, and the fire was completely extinguished,” Akinyinka stated.
Despite their efforts, three members of the family — the husband, wife, and their grandson — were unable to escape the flames. Five other occupants of the building were, however, rescued alive.
Akinyinka provided insight into the probable cause of the fire. “From our investigation, we discovered that in their attempt to keep their house warm due to the cold weather, they resorted to using a naked flame, which led to the fire disaster after they had fallen asleep,” he explained.
The fire services were also able to prevent the flames from spreading to the ground floor of the building and nearby properties, averting an even greater catastrophe.
Law enforcement officials and security personnel were present at the scene to ensure order. “A team of policemen, led by CSP Olaniyan Jibola from Mapo Division, and operatives of Amotekun, led by Gbenga Akinyemi from the North West Division, were on the scene to maintain law and order,” Akinyinka added.
The incident has reignited concerns about fire safety, particularly during colder seasons, and underscores the need for increased awareness about the risks of using open flames indoors. The community continues to grieve the loss of three lives in a tragedy that could have been avoided.
