Police investigate baby burnt to death in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command has begun an investigation into the circumstances leading to a three-year-old, simply identified as Michael, burning to death when a fire resulting from a melted candle razed down their compound at Olorunsogo Street, Ejigbo, in Lagos State.

The incident was said to have occurred at about 11:10 p.m. on Saturday.

According to a source, a candle in one of the apartment’s rooms had melted, causing the tragedy.

A police source said the fire destroyed 10 rooms within the compound and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.

“The fire was caused by a candle that was lit, which later melted in one of the rooms. The room caught fire, and it spread to the other 10 rooms in the compound. As a result of the fire, one child named Michael, a three-year-old son of Mr. Ayo, got burnt completely. Also, property worth millions of naira got burnt in the inferno.”

A resident in the area, simply identified as Dapo, stated that the Lagos State Fire Fighters and other relevant agencies were present at the scene, adding that the Lagos State Ambulance Service evacuated the boy’s remains.

He said, “The houses in the compound burnt totally, and the small boy burnt completely. Candles are not advisable to use at all because I wonder how just one candle destroyed millions of naira.

“A team of police officers, firefighters, and Lagos State Ambulance Services visited the scene, and the fire was later put out by the firefighters. The Lagos Ambulance Service took away the remains of the boy.”

Benjamin Hundeyin, Lagos State’s Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident.

He stated that everything was under control and that the area was being watched while an investigation was ongoing.

Hudeyin said, “The area is being monitored while the situation is under control. An investigation is ongoing.”