Three more bodies have been recovered from the rubble of the Sunday morning explosion which occurred at Abule-Ado, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.
The figure brings the number of those who died at
the scene to 18, while many more injured persons have been admitted at the
Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Navy Town, Ojo. The Public Relations Officer
of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-West, Ibrahim
Farinloye, confirmed the recovery of the three bodies, adding that a child was
rescued alive. The Command Information Officer, Western Naval Command, Navy
Commander Thomas Otuji, said that a total of 55 persons were rushed to the
Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital by rescuers led by the Flag Officer Commanding
(FOC) Western Naval Command.
Otuji said, “Those brought to the hospital are made
up of 36 school children and 19 adults. One of the adults had about 35 per cent
mixed degree burns, with inhalation injuries and pulmonary edema. He has been
admitted into the Intensive Care Unit and connected to a ventilator. “Seven
other adults and two children are on admission in the wards. Two adults had
traumatic brain injury and were referred to the Lagos University Teaching
Hospital for neurosurgical intervention. The remaining 43 have been treated and
discharged. Three people – two females and a male – were brought in dead.” A
resident in the area, Michael Abiye, said he was still looking for his cousin
who was staying with him. According to Abiye, “My cousin told me he worships in
one of the pentecostal churches in the area, but I don’t know the particular
church. Since the incident occurred, I have not seen him and his phone is
switched off. I have gone to all the hospitals, including the Navy hospital,
Ojo, but I couldn’t find him.” The area remained cordoned off yesterday by
police operatives and emergency workers with a view to prevent urchins from
looting items that could still be valuable. However, it was observed that the
urchins still defied police presence to steal household equipment in the guise
of helping victims to move them to safe ground. Some people were also seen
parking out from the area for fear of another explosion. One of them, John
Okon, said, “I am a trader at the Trade Fair Complex. I moved into the area
five years ago because of its proximity to my business place. I actually
started entertaining fear when I began hearing words of how vandals were always
destroying pipelines round here to scoop for fuel. At times, the air would be
filled with thick odour of petrol from spillage. “I am happy that I am moving
out of the area with my family still alive and safe. Some people are still
looking for their children.”
Published
by
Prince Bawa Joe
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