“My house, a two-story building, was completely burnt”- 92-year-old Ibadan fire victim counts losses

by Rachel Ogbu

 

Photo: Punch
Photo: Punch

“It was a bad day for us all,” Amusa Ajibade, one of the victims from Monday’s Ibadan fire sadly sums it up.

Ajibade who sustained injuries when a petrol tanker, marked LAGOD XJ 288 SMK, exploded after crashing at Saint Stephens Primary School Junction, Ibadan said; “I lost what I laboured for. I sustained injuries while trying to move my property out.”

[READ: Tragic: Fuel tanker falls off the road, catches fire that guts more than 12 buildings in Ibadan (PHOTO)]

A 92-year-old Pa Ali Olatunbosun who lived in Omitowoju community where the tragedy struck said he was rescued by some youths when the fire started.

“I was taken to somewhere around Salvation Army Primary School.”

“My house, a two-story building, was completely burnt along with my late brother’s house. The house was built in 1956 when Queen Elizabeth visited Nigeria,” he told the representative of Oyo South Senatorial District, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin.

Many other victims told heart wrenching stories on Tuesday where more than a dozen houses and more businesses worth several millions of naira were burnt to the ground.

The Punch reports:

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.”

 

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail