A fire outbreak has been reported at the Christ Apostolic Church in Wisdom Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State, trapping several worshippers during a vigil.
The incident, which occurred around 9:30pm on Olohunda Road, Lagelu Local Government Area, was confirmed by sources on Saturday morning.
Reports said that some worshippers had already fallen asleep in preparation for the vigil, when the blaze started. One eyewitness said: “Some people had already slept off when the fire started.”
Another eyewitness described the desperate situation inside the church, saying, “An elderly woman who could barely walk was still inside the church when the fire was raging.”
The Oyo State Fire Services mobilized to the scene after being alerted by a resident.
The agency’s General Manager, Akinyemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident but noted that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Efforts to establish the full extent of the damage and possible casualties are ongoing.