A mysterious fire outbreak on Tuesday destroyed sections of two historic Islamic family homes on Lagos Island, plunging the Muslim community into mourning.
The inferno, which reportedly erupted in the early hours of the day, severely damaged the Shitta-Bey family house, including its centuries-old mosque recognised by the Lagos State Government as a heritage site.
The residence of the Animashaun family, another prominent Islamic lineage on Lagos Island, was also affected by the blaze.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of other historic Islamic structures in the area, particularly the over 100-year-old Alli-Balogun Wasinmi Mosque located at 38, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street.
President of the Association of Lagos State Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries (ALARHOSPS), Otunba Nurudeen Ojora-Adejiyan, warned that the mosque is currently under serious threat due to a building constructed dangerously close to it.
“The Alli-Balogun Wasinmi Mosque is over 100 years old and now under threat. A building has been constructed beside it in clear violation of government regulations, especially the statutory six feet air space required for security and safety between buildings,” he said.
According to him, should a fire outbreak occur, the historic mosque would be highly vulnerable, just as seen in the recent incidents involving the Shitta-Bey and Animashaun families.
“May Allah not allow the calamity that affected the Shitta-Bey and Animashaun families to befall the Alli-Balogun family. These are three centuries-old Islamic families whose heritage must be protected,” he added.
Ojora-Adejiyan further questioned the approval process for the controversial building, asking, “Does this building have government approval? And if yes, who approved it?”
He disclosed that since the foundation of the building was laid in July 2024, the managers of the mosque have repeatedly drawn the attention of relevant government agencies, including the Lagos State Safety Commission, to the alleged regulatory infractions, but without any response.
Vice Chairman of the Alli-Balogun Descendants Union, Dr. G.T. Alli-Balogun, had described the fire incident as a painful loss to the Islamic community in Lagos and called for prayers and collective support for the affected families.
“This unfortunate incident represents a significant loss to our Islamic community. We pray Allah grants the Shitta-Bey and Animashaun families the strength to bear this hardship and the resources to rebuild and preserve their heritage,” he said.
As of press time, the cause of the fire remained unknown, while calls have intensified for urgent government intervention to prevent further loss of Lagos’ historic and religious landmarks.
