A once thriving market, bustling
junction, community of motor spare part dealers and a popular spot in Lagos state
was consumed by fire beyond recognition. In Ajeromi Ifeolodun Local Government
Area of Lagos state, Berger Suya junction is well known for
its flea market
nature. People buying and selling all over the place and commercial vehicles
making several stop overs to pick up both goods and passengers. This location
has a road that leads to Apapa and Lagos Island, Oshodi etc. and can be an
alternative route whenever the holdup builds up on the major high way.
Usually spare parts dealers close by
7 pm, car dealers do not function at night while banks stop operations by 4 pm. While many left the area after a successful
day job, others resumed for their own job/businesses. At about 10:44 pm on Tuesday
night being January 7th 2014, a tanker carrying about 33,000 liters of
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) aka fuel failed brake and rammed into a commercial
bus that parked to pick up passengers. Immediately, the bus flamed up and the
tanker tumbled upon a commercial meat grill stand (Suya stand). As the saying
goes, ‘flammable’, the open fire from grill triggered the fire along with the already flammed up bus. This
however, took place in less than a minute after the fall of the tanker. A
resounding blast was heard and that was how the fire began. The Lagos Fire Service
and Capital oil Fire Service team were there to quench the fire, although, they
tried but the fire was too quick to damage all things. Goods, property and cash
estimated to be worth billions of naira was lost as a result of the fire.
Everything both living and non-living
within 15 meter mile radius where the tanker fell were burnt to ashes. The parallel
array of shops opposite where the tanker tumbled all got burnt as a result of
the inferno. It was reported that the fuel spilled into the gutter and as it spilled,
it carried fire along with it. Sterling bank was completely burnt including the
ATM machine. The security man on duty was reported to be inside the bank at the
time of the incident as the fire engulfed the gate and moved into the building
thereby giving him no escape itinerary. Burnt also were about 3 commercial
buses carrying people probably returning from work, school or events as the
case may be. These people were all burnt or better still roasted alive as a
number of 22 bodies were lying all over the place before they were removed by
the authorities. Private cars, about-to-be-sold trucks were not left out as
they were all burnt to ashes.
Baked human bones, burnt flesh of men
and women were still found at the accident site at the early hours of today. Bankers
and Police men attached to the Berger Suya branch of Sterling Bank Plc. watched
helplessly as their office has become a house piled up with ashes.
People gathered to watch and take
pictures without control. Many expected their loved ones to come home that
night but they didn't. There was wailing all over the place as the dead bodies
were being carried out last night.
Business men called their colleagues
who are yet to return from their festive pleasures to tell them how fire has gutted
their shops which served as their means of livelihood. Eye witnesses were not
available as many of them couldn't make it out of the scene alive. The tanker driver and his motor boy didn't make it as their remains were among the ones
taken away.
What a way to begin the New Year. While
others kick start the New Year with joy and happiness other begin with sorrow,
sadness and loss.
“I
just bought food from a kiosk at Berger Suya last night, when I sighted that
tanker, I felt something in me that something is about to happen, I immediately
drove away, the next thing I heard was ‘boom’ I didn't stop, It was so scary I could look back. Now, I came to see the aftermath. I thank God for my life”. An okada
man who lives in Kirikiri town expressed his gratitude as he sobbed.
viewers are advised to take caution while viewing pictures because they are quite disturbing. thank you
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