Late on Saturday night, a destructive fire swept through the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos State, claiming the lives of four cows, three goats, and a prominent office building owned by the National Council of Arts and Culture.
According to Amodu Shakiru, the Head of Public Education Unit at the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the inferno was triggered by a gas explosion within the theater premises, as gathered by Quest Times.
Shakiru emphasized that the fire, stemming from a gas cylinder explosion in one of the offices, resulted in significant losses.
“The cause of the fire was gas explosion. About four 50kgs of gas cylinder were stored in one of the offices. Affected properties included four cows and three goats that were recovered suspected dead. An office building said to belong to the National Council of Arts and Culture located opposite the artists’ village was also razed down by the fire. Firefighters were able to contain the spread of the fire thereby preventing further danger without casualties,” warned Shakiru.
Moreover, he cautioned residents against storing gas facilities indoors, emphasizing the volatility of gas and recommending proper outdoor storage.
Shakiru urged those intending to store large quantities of gas to obtain necessary approval from the fire service.
This incident marks the third fire within a week in Lagos State, following the destruction of Fat Noble filling station in Badagry and a market at the Council bus stop in Ikotun.