Residents of Igbehin-Adun in Ilasamaja in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State yesterday urged police authority to ensure three persons arrested during a fire incident are prosecuted.
A two-storey building went up in flames on Sunday afternoon on Ayuba Daudu Street in the area, leaving four flats razed.
Part of the building housed Lamee Ventures, maker of Skord bottle and sachet water.
Residents of two of the flats could not salvage anything.
In the melee, three persons were arrested for stealing from the building.
An eyewitness, Adeola Olawale, said the hoodlums pretended to be helping to fight the fire.
“They went into one of the rooms while many were trying to put out the fire to steal some items. Some of the things found on them include jewellery, wrist watch, handsets among others. Somebody raised the alarm before the mob pounced on them. They were handed over to policemen,” he said.
Igbehin-Adun Community Development Association (CDA) chairman Chief Oladele Dasaolu described the boys’ action as saddening.
“The only unfortunate thing was the boys that came to steal. The policemen have taken the three of them away,” he said.
Some residents who spoke with The Nation yesterday urged the police to take them to court to serve as deterrent to others.
“How can someone be stealing from the people in agony. It is height of heartlessness to pretend as a helper and added more woes to the person’s pain. Do they pray such incident happened to them? Police should not release them,” Akin Ashade said.
Another resident, Wale Omole wondered how people could think of stealing in such circumstance.
“They are lucky that policemen were around, else the mob would have beaten them to coma. We were striving to put out the fire to reduce the cost of destruction, some people striving to steal. I will be glad to see police take them to court,” he said.
His friend, Kola said their conviction would serve as deterrent to others who nurse such inordinate ambition.
Meanwhile, light work began yesterday at the water factory with production of plastic.
While some of the workers were still packing some of the burnt items, few others were working in one of the offices.
When The Nation visited the place, sympathisers came in one after another.
The rubbles were being parked into a vehicle for onward disposal.
The owner of the building and firm, Alhaji Kayode Lamina were seen receiving sympathisers at his office.
Mushin Local Government Executive Secretary Babajide Bello yesterday appealed to parents and guidance to stop the habit of locking children in homes while they are away.
According to him, many of the fire incidents that occurred recently were caused by parents and guidance, who locked their children in the room and left with the keys. “This is a dangerous habit which has caused several deaths. Several homes were burnt during the festive period as a result of this act,” he said.
Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) yesterday also urged Lagos residents to take necessary precautionary measures to prevent avoidable fire outbreak could endanger lives and property.
Its General Manager Michael Akindele, who gave the advice at a news briefing in Lagos, urged the people to be safety conscious on incidences that might lead to disaster.
Akindele also reminded motorists to imbibe safety culture, especially during the harmattan, which may last till the end of February in the state.
According to him, necessary precautionary measures should be taken to prevent avoidable fire outbreak, road accident and other emergency situations that could endanger lives and property.
“The agency is committed to reducing emergency and disasters to the barest minimum through continuous Public Advocacy/Campaign programmes at the grassroots.
“The agency plans to hold advocacy programmes with stakeholders on prevention, mitigation and rescue on emergencies.
“It will be held at the Blue Roof LTV8 Agindingbi, Lagos this month.
“The event will involve all first responders of emergency management with presentation on prevention and recovery during emergency,” Akindele said.
He promised that the agency would continue to hold periodic stakeholders meeting with relevant stakeholders to assess the level of preparedness for emergency and identify the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders in the management of emergencies.The general manager explained that the Local Emergency Management Committee in all the 57 Local Government/Local Council Development Areas have been restructured while 750 Local Emergency Responders have been trained.
He said that the steps would improve effectiveness and efficiency of the agency in the management of emergency and disaster in the state.
Akindele urged relevant stakeholders to partner with the State Government in reducing the occurrences of emergency and disaster that are avoidable.
