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| Emergency services tackling a fire at a church in Oyo State. |
It all happened on a Friday night, and things were pretty calm as the people of the Christ Apostolic Church in Wisdom Estate, Ibadan, were having a night vigil. Things, however, took a turn when fire razed the church building with people running for their lives. The incident happened at about 9:30 PM along Olohunda Road in Lagelu Local Government Area. For those who were present at the event in that holy place, it was a time to pray and meditate. Instead, they had to struggle for their lives.
The people who were there said that it looked like something from a horror movie. Some of the people who were there had already dozed off or were trying to get some sleep because they knew they were going to be there for most of the night and wait for the vigil and when the fire happened. The suddenness left everyone in shock. One worshipper mentioned how the flames spread so fast that people barely had time to react.
One account, pgut wrenching,t-wrenching, spoke of an elderly woman trapped inside. With limited mobility, she struggled as the fire intensified, and it was unclear if she received help in time. The panic, confusion, and desperation during those moments are hard to imagine unless you’ve been in such a situation yourself.
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What Caused the Fire?
As of now, no official cause has been identified. The Fire Services’ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akinyemi Akinyinka, has also confirmed the incident and investigation are ongoing. It could have been an electrical fault, a candle that went off, or something else that the public may not have been told.
This tragic event brings to light the vulnerability of communal spaces, especially when safety measures are not thoroughly implemented or regularly checked. While churches are places of solace and spiritual renewal, incidents like this remind us that they are not immune to disasters.
The Human Angle
Along with the physical damage, there is the people’s aspect of the followers who went there to find peace and got terrified. It’s quite shocking, isn’t it? Life can be unpredictable; it can be different at any given time. You can be on your knees in prayer, and the very next instant you are running for your life with fire closing in on you.
Many questions remain unanswered. Were there adequate fire safety measures in place? Did the church have functioning fire extinguishers or clear evacuation plans? And perhaps most importantly, how can incidents like this be prevented in the future?