One feared dead as fire razes top class supermarket in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos

Globus Supermarket in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos went up in flames on Monday afternoon, destroying goods worth several millions of Naira.

A female worker, who was said to have been burnt, was feared dead.

Other members of staff reportedly sustained varying degrees of injuries following the resultant stampede.

The cause of the fire had not been established at the time of filing this report on Monday night.

The Deputy Head of Operation, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mr. Olajide Ogabi, said the team arrived at the venue immediately they were alerted.

He said: “There is no such thing as waiting for water. The Lagos State Government has provided vehicles for us to operate and we got here immediately we got the information.”

He added: “The reason why the fire is still ongoing is because we don’t know the contents of the items in the store, and we can’t ascertain that until we are done.

“A lady was rescued, and she has been taken to the hospital for treatment. She is responding to treatment.”

However, information by a private guard opposite the Globus supermarket had it that the injured lady had passed away.

He said: “She is gone; her sister just left, crying over her demise. She said she died in the hospital.”
But eye witnesses said the fire started around 11 am.

However, residents faulted the delayed arrival of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, blaming it for the cause of the devastating effect.

According to an eye witness identified simply as Joseph, “When the Lagos State Fire Service arrived around 12 noon, they used the water they had to extinguish some parts but waited for many hours before continuing the operation

“They said there was no water and they were waiting for water to arrive before continuing the operation. Boys in the area decided to use their hands to remove some of the iron protectors around the building. In the process, a lady was rescued from the toilet.

“But I don’t know if she will survive because her hands and face were burnt before they took her to the hospital. But goods worth over N300 million have been burnt down”

Another witness, Obinna, who sells opposite the building, said: “The fire started at 11 am. We didn’t really know what happened, but smoke was coming out from the window. I was the one who alerted management of the mall.