The Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, Commandant Eweka Douglas Okoro earlier today, deployed a combined team of personnel to the fire scene of a fire incident that took place on thursday 17th June, 2021, at about 22:32hrs at the building of Ogun State Property investment Company (OPIC), along Mobolaji Bank Anthony way, besides Sheraton, Ikeja, Lagos.

The Command’s combined team arrived the scene, earlier this morning, at about 08:25hrs.

The team comprised personnel from the Disaster Unit, the Public Relations Officer of the Command and personnel from Ikeja Division led by the Divisional Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corps (CSC) Vivian Ikoku.

The team was defined, purposeful and largely set out to ensure the safety, security and protection of lives and property of residents, staff and others at the scene.

The team also amongst other things assisted in evacuation, crowd control, traffic decongestion and ensured synergy with the Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and other relevant stakeholders, in achieving the desired goal.

The team embarked on preliminary investigation, which later revealed that the fire was caused by a parked LPG (gas) tanker that had fault (leakage) around the route where Ogun State Property Investment Company (OPIC) is located, which then later exploded and affected the OPIC building complex. The fire gulted about 25 motor vehicles and property within the complex.

However, three (3) lifeless bodies, of some identified staff in the facility, were discovered, recovered and later evacuated this morning at the scene. There were also other victims with various degree of injuries that have been taken to the hospital.

Commandant Eweka Douglas Okoro, assures Lagosians and residents, of his unflinching commitment towards the protection of lives and property and critical national assets and infrastructure, in the state.

He further stressed that he will ensure consistent inter-agency collaboration as a viable and veritable instrument in managing disaster or totally averting it in the state.

Finally, calm, normalcy and tranquility has been restored at the fire scene and its environs. So much so, escalating tension has also been made to fizzle away, resulting from proactive efforts of all the needed responders (Security Agencies and relevant Emergency Management agencies and stakeholders), at the fire scene.