Tragedy struck in Lagos on Friday as a 103-year-old woman lost her life in a fire that engulfed her apartment at No. 8, Bola Street, off Kadara Street, Oyingbo, in the Lagos Mainland Local Government Area.

Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), confirmed the incident, noting that the fire broke out while the elderly woman was asleep, leaving her unable to escape before the blaze spread.

“The fire reportedly started in one of the rooms and quickly spread to other parts of the building,” Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu said, urging residents to adhere strictly to fire safety measures.

The inferno destroyed eight rooms and a living room, one unit of a room mini-flat, a self-contained apartment, six shops, and household property valued at millions of naira. As of press time, the cause of the fire was yet to be determined.

LASEMA activated the State Emergency Response Plan after receiving alerts via the 767/112 toll-free emergency lines at 11:43 a.m., and responders arrived at the scene by 12:13 p.m. A risk assessment was conducted, and the area was secured to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.

Although the blaze was eventually brought under control, the woman’s remains were handed over to her family. Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu praised the prompt coordination of first responders, which included the LASEMA Response Team from Onipanu Base, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Nigeria Police Force, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), and local government officials.