Female Lecturer Killed In 'Strange' Fire In Lagos

A senior lecturer with the National Open University of Nigeria, Dr Jumoke Odeyemi, has been killed in a fire that gutted her apartment in the Ketu area of Lagos.

Dr. Jumoke, who joined NOUN in 2009, had a doctorate in Adult and Continuing Education from the University of Ibadan, where she also had her bachelor’s degree in Language and Literacy and master’s degree in Education.

She reportedly got married four years ago and had yet to have a child with her United States-based husband before her death.

It was gathered that she was asleep at her residence on Jemigbon Street, Apollo Estate, on Thursday when power was restored around 2am.

The lady had reportedly bought 30-litre fuel the previous day which she kept in her balcony.

It was said that as soon as power was restored, there was a spark which reportedly caught a mosquito net in the two-bedroomed flat, leading to the fire.

Residents told Punch that they were awoken by the victim’s call for help, adding that in the twinkling of an eye, the fire reached the jerrycan of petrol and exploded.

The deployment of operatives of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and more than five water trucks from two fire stations in the area did not save her from death.

Sadly, she was burnt beyond recognition and her remains deposited in a morgue.

As at 4pm yesterday, smokes were emanating from Dr. Jumoke's apartment.

The government had, however, closed down the building.

A tenant, who was seen putting what remained of his property into a car, said he had just renewed his rent when the incident happened.

He said, “The fire started around 2am when power was restored. There was a spark in her meter. It was the spark that caught a mosquito net in her house which made the fire to spread.

“There was a lot of burglar-proof bars in her house and it was hard saving her.”

When Punch reached out to the younger sister of the victim, identified only as Ronke, with whom she reportedly chatted that night before dossing off, she declined comment.

“I am not in a right frame of mind to say anything,” she said.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, said a team led by the crime officer of the Ketu Police Division visited the scene.

She added that police investigation revealed that the victim could not be rescued “as a result of iron barricade on the door post.”