Rev. Sr.Henrietta Alokha, an administrator at Bethlehem Girls College, Abule Ado, Amuwo Odofin local government area of Lagos state lost her life in the explosion which occurred on Sunday morning. Late Rev. Sr. Henrietta Alokha rescued all the children under her care from the explosion and could not make it herself.
The Reverend reportedly died after a roof of the educational facility fell on her. Meanwhile, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Director-General Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), has said that 17 bodies have been recovered while 25 casualties are being treated for injuries sustained in the Abule-Ado explosion.
Oke-Osanyintolu made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday. According to him, we sympathise with the families of those that died, wish the injured ones quick recovery and we also appeal for calm. Oke-Osanyintolu urged residents of Abule-Ado to shun fake news concerning the explosion.
“We the LASEMA Response Team arrived at the incident scene and it was discovered that a raging fire had displaced several residents who fled their abodes for fear of being caught up in the inferno. “The primary cause of the explosion is yet unknown. “There are a number of secondary explosions which have caused significant damage to multiple buildings including the levelling of a Church to the ground and the destruction of St. Margaret’s Girls Hostel. “The causes are yet to be determined, while security agents are investigating the cause of the explosion,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
He said that recovery and rescue activities were carried out by the Ministry of Special Duties, LASEMA, Lagos State Fire Service crew, Federal Fire Service Department, Safety Commission, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and other first responders. He said that operation was still in progress, saying that updates would continue through the course of operation, while investigations remain ongoing.