A fire outbreak has razed the Okokomaiko police station and surrounding buildings in Lagos, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.
According to LASEMA’s permanent secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the inferno started in a diesel tanker carrying 10,000 gallons of fuel.
He stated that the tanker caught fire while supplying diesel to a network tower near the police station.
According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the inferno spread fast to surrounding properties, devouring police station offices, three bungalows, and parts of a hotel.
The statement said, “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 read.
“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 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 stated that emergency response teams from LASEMA, LASTMA, the fire service, the Nigerian Army, and the police collaborated to control the disaster.
