By Evelyn Usman

Last week, in less than eight hours, occupants of 43, Sari Iganmu, Lagos, lost everything they labuored for all their lives in a fire described as mysterious.

Although, the affected persons are still nursing the wound of the colossal loss which has displaced them from their comfort zones, the most hit is the owner of the building, Mr Christopher Anago, a former local government chairman of Orile Iganmu local government area,who lost two of his grand daughters in the inferno.

*Dayo Anago

The fire, which changed the entire course of the affected families, occurred at about 9pm that fateful day. Report said the situation could have been salvaged had anyone noticed the fire on time.

It was not until flame was noticed from the roof that a passer-by reportedly raised an alarm. By then, hope of the occupants salvaging their belongings was dashed as some of them were chocked in the process of making attempts.

As everyone struggled to escape to safe places, one of the occupants, Mrs Kehinde Anago who was returning from where she apparently went to buy something, with a black nylon bag dangling in her hand, stopped on sighting the crowd and the fire. Then she started shouting, my children! Please help me! They are inside the room.

At first, no one reportedly listened to her as everyone was busy with his or her own business until it dawned on some of the sympathizers that lives were being lost in the inferno.

By then it was too late , as the whole building, comprising over 15 rooms had been engulfed in fire. No one could comfort the depressed mother who at that time seemed as if the whole world had crumbled on her.

After the fire was put out, the charred remains of her two daughters, aged four and seven respectively were sighted by the entrance of the door.

Crime Guard gathered that while the mad rush for escape was on, the children identified as Bukola and Bisola woke up from sleep confused, on seeing fire at the top of the roof. Unsure of what to do, they made straight for the door where they discovered to their consternation, that it was locked from outside.

*Burnt house

They reportedly banged on the door calling from help at the same time. But their cry elicited no immediate response, for those who could have helped had also fled for dear life. The knock reportedly continued until their voices became inaudible.

On why the children were locked inside, Crime Guard investigation revealed that their mother had before the incident , informed them she was going to buy something. She reportedly locked them inside apparently because it was late and therefore would not want them to come out and play.

Crime Guard investigation also revealed that the children only arrived the area two weeks before the incident, with their parents and that they were used to staying indoors and as such, never raised an eyebrow when their mother locked them inside.

As Mrs Kehinde Anago left with a promise to get her children some biscuits on her return, never had she the slightest inkling that, it would be the last time she would see them alive.

While she was still trying to come to terms with the reality of the dirty blow fate dealt her, her husband, as gathered, was furious at her for locking the children inside, thus leading to a heated argument between them.

When Crime Guard visited the remains of what used to be a home for many, neither the bereaved mother nor father was found. Owner of the building, Mr Christopher Anago,who was devastated by the death of his grand children, was said to have relocated to Badagry. But one of his children, Miss Dayo Anago who also occupied an apartment in the burnt building was seen.

When approached, she narrated in an emotion- laden voice how she lost everything including her money in the fire which left her with just the cloth she was putting on.

According to her, “ My sister, it is indeed a tragedy. Nobody thought a thing like this would have happened now. We cannot tell what caused the fire which defiled even efforts by the fire service.

I was not in the house when it happened. I was only attracted by the shout of fire and before we could get there, the whole place had been covered with thick smoke. My brother lost his two children in the fire. He only moved here with his family two weeks ago.

Right now, I do not know where the mother of the children is. I cannot even tell where everybody has gone to because as I speak now, I am left with just this cloth.

Since the incident, I have been sleeping in the church. But I do not know how long the church will go on housing me. Where do I even begin from, is it about the money to rent an apartment or to start buying clothes? This is the worst thing that has happened to me”, she lamented.