Resident gives reason why neighbours watched A Family Of Seven Perish in Lagos Fire (PHOTO)

The lone-survivor, Chidinma

Vanguard reported how a family screamed for help when fire started in their home but their neighbours refused to offer the much needed help.

The fire incident reported to have started around 11pm on Tuesday, September 8 and caused by a lit-
candlestick while members of the family were fast asleep, occurred in an apartment located on 21, Michael Ogun Street, Obele Lawanson in Lagos.
In the house were Mr. Kelechi Onoja, his wife, Nkiru, their three children named Onoja-Junior, Favour and Chidinma aged three weeks, three years and eight years respectively as well as Nkiru’s mother and two children who had come to babysit the newborn.

By the time officials of the Lagos State Fire Service arrived, all members of the household had been burnt to death except Chidinma who was badly burnt but still alive. She is currently battling for her life in a hospital.

Ultimately, a resident, Christiana Faleti, has explained that the neighbour's inaction was due to the quarrel that existed between the family and them which made them refuse to help their now-dead neighbours.

“The neighbours ran away from their own houses when the family was shouting for help. This is because of the lingering quarrel between the family and their neighbours.

‘’As you can see, there are three houses in the compound but the middle one occupied by the Onojas was the one affected.  This is not ordinary because even the connecting wires to other buildings were not affected.”

High Chief Kareem Jinadu  Awoyemi, the traditional ruler of Surulere reportedly cried when he visited the site of the fire incident and blamed the neighbours for their inaction.

He said: “There are issues brought to me that occupants of the three buildings in the compound were never in good terms.

‘’This is just too much. How could this type of thing escalate to this level when the victims had neighbours?”

Some persons, angered by the inaction of the neighbours tried to attack them and burn the two houses but the intervention of the police prevented another tragedy.A neighbour was seen collecting money from sympathisers for chidinma who was still in the hospital.

“We are donating for the treatment of the little girl that is in the hospital. Chidinma (survivor ) is in critical condition in the hospital and we are doing all we can to ensure her survival. Doctors said she has a fifty-fifty chance of survival.’’

Haba! How will the neighbours sleep with their conscience knowing they killed their neighbours indirectly out of unforgiveness? Beats me!