By Mary BASSEY, Senior Investigator Reporter, Lagos/
EMOTIONS ran high Monday, at the Abule-Ado scene of the explosion after a baby of about 4 year old was pulled out alive out of rubbles of one of the collapsed buildings. Parents of the tot are yet to be ascertained as of the time of this report but sources said he was rushed to the nearby Navy Hospital for prompt medical examination. This was confirmed by the Public Relations Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of the South-West Region, Ibrahim Farinloye. This happened even as the Lagos State government has set up a N2 billion endowment fund for victims of the disaster. Meanwhile rescue workers said that seven more bodies have also been recovered from the debris; bringing the number of death so far recorded to 23. Sources said, while two of the bodies were recovered at the wee hours of yesterday by search parties the other three were recovered around 10.00am.
Announcing the launch of the N2 billion endowment fund, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu who visited the scene in company of his executives including his deputy also informed that the state government had already deposited N 250million into the fund. And to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the disaster, the governor also announced that a joint investigation panel to be headed by his Deputy had been set up. He therefore, called on individuals and corporate bodies to generously donate to the fund adding that his South-West governor counterparts had expressed willingness to be part of the relief fund.
In the meantime, parents and relations have continued to throng the scene of the explosion in search of the missing children and loved ones.
A parent, Michael Abiye, said he was still looking for his cousin who stays with him. According to Abiye, “My cousin came two months ago and he told me he worshiped 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 naval hospital, Ojo, but I couldn’t find him. I learnt that five more bodies were recovered today. But there is no information on where they took the bodies to. In the meantime, the entire scene of the explosion had been cordoned off by security operatives and emergency workers to ward off hoodlums who might want to steal from the dead. But a source said in spite of heavy presence of security agents including Policemen, street urchins popularly called Areaboys have continually defied the cordon, stealing from the debris. Already, residents have begun packing out of the the community enmass for fear of recurrent. John Okon, one of the residents told newsmen that he was parking out of the area because he never knew they were sitting on a keg of gunpowder. According to him; “As a trader at Tradefair Complex, I moved into the area five years ago because of its proximity to my business place. However, I started entertaining fears when news of how vandals were destroying pipelines to scoop fuel. At times, the air would be filled with pungent smell of petrol from the spillage. I am happy that I am moving out of the area with my family intact. Some people are still looking for their children.”
Another resident, madam A Kemi Kolaosho, said she rushed to the area when she heard of the explosion yesterday in search for her daughter who is a student of the Catholic School adding that she had yet to get hints about the whereabouts of her. According to her, she was later told that about 40 students of the school, Bethlehem Girl’s High, were moved to one of the Catholic Churches in either Navy town or Satellite town. Her words: “We were told that management of the school would address parents later today but up till now we are yet to hear from them. Around 10am someone came to tell us that the students have been relocated from the area owing to the damage done to the school building. I am very worried.”
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said that combined team of mobile and regular policemen have been deployed to provide adequate security 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, Ojo, by rescuers led by the Flag Officer Commanding ( FOC) Western Naval Command. He said that the hospital also received and attended to casualties from the explosion site. He said that 55 persons were attended to medical team of the hospital. “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 2 children are on admission in the Wards. Two adults had Traumatic Brain Injury and were referred to LUTH for neurosurgical intervention. The remaining 43 have been treated and discharged. Three people were brought in dead, two females and a male”
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