92-year-old, others count losses after Ibadan fire

A 92-year-old resident of Omitowoju community in Ibadan, Pa Ali Olatunbosun, with other victims of the Monday fire disaster were counting their losses amid tears on Tuesday.

Property worth several millions of naira were damaged on Monday following a fuel tanker fire that razed no fewer than seven houses and shops in the area.

The incident happened when a petrol-laden tanker, marked LAGOD XJ 288 SMK, went up in flames after crashing at Saint Stephens Primary School Junction, Ibadan.

Olatunbosun, while relaying his ordeal to the representative of Oyo South Senatorial District, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, said, “I was rescued by some youths when the fire started. I was taken to somewhere around Salvation Army Primary School.

“My house, a two-storey building, was completely burnt along with my late brother’s house. The house was built in 1956 when Queen Elizabeth visited Nigeria.”

Alhaji Amusa Ajibade, one of the victims, who sustained injuries during the incident, said, “It was a bad day for us all. I lost what I laboured for. I sustained injuries while trying to move my property out.”

Scores of sympathisers thronged the scene of the disaster when our correspondent visited on Tuesday.

During his visit, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, pledged his government’s assistance to the victims.

The governor, who condoled with Ajibade, directed the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, to take charge of his medical expenses.

Ajimobi, describing the situation as “most unfortunate”, said he could feel the pains of the victims because he had experienced a similar incident in 1992 when his house in Lagos was gutted by fire.

He urged the people to regard the incident as an act of God, adding that they should give thanks to God that no life was lost.

He said, “My coming here is not to exploit the fire incident to campaign but to most sincerely sympathise with you. I know how painful it could be losing one’s means of livelihood to a raging fire because I was once involved too. But we should take solace in the fact that no life was lost.

“You should also have faith in God that He is able to replenish your lost property in multiple fold.”

PUNCH