Ijegun Fire: Victims Cry Of Neglect By Governor Sanwo-olu As Death Toll Rises

By Taiwo Ojedele, Lagos

Victims of Ijegun pipeline fire incident have cried out to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come to there aid, alleging neglect by the Lagos State government and its relevant agencies.

Aside the earlier report of two people who lost their lives to the inferno occasioned by pipeline vandals, no less than five victims of the explosion which occured in the Ijegun area of Lagos State last week have died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

Three of the victims were buried at their family compound in the Isolo area of the State on Sunday morning.

Our correspondent who witnessed the burial reported that families and friends lamented the huge number of fatalities recorded in the course of the incident.

Families count loses

Some families lost virtually everything to the inferno which destroyed lives properties.

The Modiu and Afolabi family are such families.

The Modiu family, all the twelve of them comprising father, mother and their children and grandchildren suffered severe burns. The mother, Adiatu Modiu died on Saturday night while her first daughter Fasilatu also succumbed to the cold hands of death on Sunday morning.

It was no different for the Afolabi family as father, mother and son died on Saturday.

Allegations of neglect

Relatives and friends of both families decried what they called the shabby treatment given to the injured at the Gbagada General hospital where they were taken to.

They said they had been running around to source for funds to run tests and procure drugs for the victims of the fire incident.

Though, the State government claimed otherwise.

They are however calling on the authorities to come to the aid of the victims by directing officials in the hospitals to give them the best of treatment, free of charge.

They also want those involved in the vandalisation of the pipelines which led to the inferno brought to book, no matter how their status in the society.