A 103-year-old woman has died after a massive fire engulfed a residential bungalow and six shops on Bola Street, Oyingbo, Lagos, on Friday, January 16, 2026.
Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement released on Friday, described the incident as “a heartbreaking tragedy” and confirmed that emergency teams responded promptly to the scene.
LASEMA’s Lagos Response Team, the Fire Unit, Lagos State Fire & Rescue Service, and the Nigeria Police Force collaborated to bring the blaze under control.
“The fire reportedly started in a single room before spreading throughout the building,” Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu said.
“The Lagos Response Team (LRT) arrived on the scene at 12:13 p.m. and immediately observed that the residential bungalow and attached shops were fully engulfed in flames,” he said.
“Our priority was to assess the risk, cordon off the area, and implement safety measures to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring building, and rescue anyone trapped inside.”
Oke-Osanyintolu praised their efforts, noting, “Thanks to swift action and coordination, the fire was eventually contained, minimizing further loss.”
The blaze destroyed eight rooms and parlors, a self-contained mini flat, six shops, and numerous household items. Recovered properties have been handed over to the victims’ families.
Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu expressed his condolences, saying, “The loss of a centenarian in such circumstances is deeply saddening “Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased. It is a sad reminder of the need for constant vigilance and fire safety in residential areas.”
The fire destroyed eight rooms and parlors, a self-contained mini flat, six shops, and numerous household properties. Recovered items have since been handed over to the victims’ families.
Authorities confirmed that the rescue and recovery operations have concluded, and the fire has been fully extinguished.
Responders at the scene included LASEMA’s Onipanu Base Response Team, LASEMA Fire Unit, Lagos State Fire & Rescue Service, the Lagos Mainland Local Government Vice Chairman Hon. Adewale Moshood Momo, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps.
