EJIGBO FIRE DISASTER; VICTIMS STILL COUNTING LOSSES

Victims of the mystery Sunday afternoon fire which gutted a section of an auto mechanic workshop in Ejigbo are still counting their losses estimated to run into several millions of naira.

This is even as the suspected culprit who allegedly caused the fire has been arrested and cooling heels at Ejigbo Police station cell.

Neighbours noticed bellows of smoke rising to high heavens at about 4;30 pm Sunday evening at a mechanic workshop situated opposite the Ejigbo youth center (mini stadium)and started making frantic efforts at quenching it until it overwhelmed them destroying cars and other property in its wake.

Alfa...lost his bus

Eye witnesses suspect that a particular apprentice of the light repairs section of the auto workshop who had worked earlier in the day may not have quenched his fire properly.

ECD learnt that it took the intervention of the staff of the Lagos state Fire service who mobilized about four tankers of water to put out the fire which completely destroyed the entire light section with all the goods contained.

The losses also include two mini buses which were in ashes, three shops housing a restaurant, a fully stocked auto paint shop whose owner is bereaved and a carpenter’s workshop with several works on display.

Dayo...lost his bus

Again, an electrical and electronics shop was razed while a welders section with its heavy duty generator was also consumed.

Also the wheels section was not spared as goods including alloyed wheels worth millions of naira were gutted by the fire just as many tool boxes, auto spare parts went up in flames.

One of the eye witnesses simply named Emeka who was one of the earlier arrivals at the scene and had joined to salvage several of the many vehicles parked at the workshop  said “about 5 pm or there about I noticed a thick smoke rising up the sky. On a closer look I saw it was from the direction of the mechanic workshop where I work my car. In fact, my car was still there at the time so I rushed and saw the fire raging. First thing I did was to push and remove my car from the scene even if it was demobilised. I also joined in removing many other vehicles to safety. It was a hectic day. The heat of the fire was much that I considered what hell fire could be. I commend the Lagos state Fire service for the quick response”

Abuja...saved his car by God's grace

   Also speaking,  Abuja, a Toyota specialist thanked “God for making me arrive here on time if not my GMC bus will have been consumed by the inferno. It was like a film show. Fire was already catching up with my bus when I dared the fire which already had gutted my tool and spare parts box and was melting my fenders. When I entered unto the driver’s seat, the engine answered me and I reversed out of the compound. If not Almighty Allah, how could I have done with my bus which just returned from an interstate trip?”

 Abuja recalled that he saw the apprentice at about noon earlier on that Sunday and asked why he came to work on Sunday. “the reply I got was that it was an emergency so I left. I went off visiting a friend without my car. It was when I returned from that visit to carry my vehicle away that I saw a large gathering of sympathizers. On getting closer, I saw red hot fire. I still give thanks to Allah as no lives were lost. I also sympathize with my colleagues who lost much to this unfortunate inferno. One of my neighbours just returned from the funeral of her mother and just stocked her shop with goods which has been consumed by the fire. I pray God will console them”

Patron of NATA

One of the worst hit by the disaster is a man named Sunny said to be one of the most popular light experts in the area. He lost his well stocked auto light shop where he engages in repairs and reconstruction of broken auto lights. He was surrounded by friends and well wishers who came to sympathize with him. He seemed dazed by the loss and was just nodding as he was being consoled.

Patron of Nigeria Auto Technicians Association Ajani expressed shock at the disaster. According to him, “It is a big loss to us all”. He also said a thorough investigation is required to unravel the remote causes of the incident.