A fire at the EFAB Metropolis Estate in the Karasana area of the Federal Capital Territory claimed the life of a five-year-old girl around 1 a.m. on Thursday.
Eyewitnesses reported that the inferno was caused by an electrical spark in one of the children’s room sockets.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire was caused by an electrical spark in one of the children’s room sockets.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, One of the estate residents recounted that the family members were downstairs when the inferno began in the children’s room upstairs.
The resident said, “The fire broke out while we were asleep. A five-year-old girl, who was upstairs in her room, tragically lost her life. The family was downstairs at the time. As big as this estate is, there is no fire station. The developer built over 1,000 houses here but didn’t provide such a critical facility.”
Another resident criticised the lack of firefighting infrastructure on the estate.
The resident claimed that the absence of equipment on the estate exacerbated the disaster.
“Although the fire service personnel arrived promptly, they had to navigate through Kubwa before accessing the estate. If we had a fire station here, the damage could have been minimised. Originally, locations were designated for a hospital, recreation centre, and fire station, but these were sold off. A fire station is an urgent necessity to prevent future tragedies.”
Afeez Olopade, Chairman of the House Owners’ Association, expressed regret at the occurrence and offered his support to the bereaved family.
Olopade admitted that the estate should include firefighting equipment and infrastructure and stated that the estate’s executive members will discuss the necessity for the amenities with the developer, Dr. Fabian Nwaorah.
He said, “This terrifying incident is something we wish we could undo. We are working closely with the affected family to provide support. Regarding the lack of firefighting infrastructure, residents have made repeated calls for a functional fire station within the estate.
“Our estate spans over 200 hectares, making such facilities indispensable. Infrastructure development and maintenance are still under the estate developer, Blue Fountain Properties Limited, chaired by Dr. Fabian Nwaorah. We will continue engaging with the developer, government agencies, and stakeholders to ensure these facilities are provided promptly.”
Aminola Adebayo, interim director of the FCT Fire Service, verified the occurrence, indicating that the fire was caused by an electrical spark in the children’s room.
“The building was a storey terrace house, and the fire consumed furniture, kitchen equipment, mattresses, and other items. Sadly, a six-year-old girl lost her life. The fire was brought under control through the combined efforts of the FCT Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service,” Adebayo said.
