Fire guts police station, three buildings in Lagos

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) says a fire outbreak has affected parts of Okokomaiko police station.

Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, permanent secretary of LASEMA, said in a statement that a diesel tanker caught fire near the police station.

He said an investigation revealed that the truck was laden with 10,000 litres of diesel and was supplying a network mast when it caught fire.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the fire spread to adjoining buildings, including offices in the police station, three bungalows, and sections of a nearby hotel.

“Following distress calls received via the 767/112 Toll-Free Emergency Lines at 12:38 hrs, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans and its Emergency Response Team from the Igando Base,” the statement reads.

“Upon arrival at the incident scene, a loaded diesel tanker (registration number unknown) was found to have caught fire at the aforementioned location.

“Further investigation revealed that the diesel tanker, laden with 10,000 litres of diesel, was supplying a network mast at the aforesaid location when it caught fire while discharging its contents.

“However, the fire reportedly spread to adjoining buildings, one of which is Okokomaiko police station, due to negligence. No loss of lives nor injuries were sustained as a result of the fire incident.

“Three bungalows were completely burnt down when the fire reignited, with household properties worth hundreds of thousands of naira were affected. One lock-up shop and four containerised shops were also burnt down.

“A generator house of an unknown hotel and their kitchen was also affected. Cables of the PHCN transformer nearby were also affected.”

Oke-Osanyintolu said response teams, including operatives of LASEMA, LASTMA, the fire service, the Nigerian Army, and the police, were on the scene.