Fire Razes Makeshift Shanties

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There was confusion at the Oto makeshift settlement close to Ijora Olopa area of Oyingbo, Lagos, South West Nigeria, where residents tried to salvage their  properties as fire razed down about 10 makeshift shanties and destroyed properties worth thousands of naira.

Those affected could not salvage anything from the shanties as the swampy terrain prevented rescuers from coming near the area.

“Even if fire fighters were here, it would have been difficult for them to save the situation as there is no access to our residence,” a distraught resident  told P.M.NEWS.

The cause of the fire could not be ascertained, but some of the residents said the fire started from a kitchen where a female neighbour was cooking. She was  said to have put a pot of oil on fire and went to buy something across the swampy terrain and before she returned, the pot had dried and exploded with the  stove and fire broke out.

Efforts by residents to put out the fire proved abortive.

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The residents also identified the generating sets being used by those affected as contributing to the explosion.

Some of the affected residents were seen counting their losses when P.M.NEWS visited the scene.

A victim who identified himself as Jude said, “though I have lost everything to the fire, more painful is my secondary school certificate and testimonial and  my children’s books and school uniforms. Where will I get the money to cloth and buy them books?” he lamented.

— Paul Iyoghojie

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