How fire accident left me, 30 residents homeless — Stationer

Godwin Edimekong, a stationer, speaks to TEMITOPE ADETUNJI about the harrowing experience of losing his home when a fire consumed his apartment leaving him and other tenants homeless

Could you recount what happened when the fire broke out?

My name is Godwin Edimekong. I trained and practiced as a journalist. Previously, I was the Lagos correspondent for the Pointer Newspaper, owned by the Delta State government at the time, but I am now engaged in private business selling books and stationery in the Ogba area of Ikeja, Lagos State. I hail from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and I am sixty years old.

I reside at No. 17, Atinuke Close, County Bus Stop, Aguda. On the day of the incident, I was away. Our accommodation was a bungalow with about seven rooms, a parlour, and a boys’ quarters, housing up to 30 residents, including children. On May 11, 2024, I was out with my wife and son.

At that time, there were approximately four tenants at home, including those in the boys’ quarters and the main building. The others had gone out for their daily activities. Around 1 pm, I received a call informing me, “Come quickly, there’s a fire accident at your residence.”

Upon returning home, I found the fire had engulfed the entire building, nearly reducing it to ashes. Onlookers had attempted to douse the flames with a mixture of water and detergent, but it proved ineffective. We called the firefighters, but they did not arrive promptly despite our description. Eventually, someone had to drive to their location to alert them, after which they responded.

They spent three hours pouring water before finally extinguishing the fire, but by then, significant damage had been done. Even upon my return from the shop, I was prevented from entering the compound due to collapsed roofs and walls.

The fire was devastating. I spoke to one of my neighbours who recounted being at home with his children that Saturday. He mentioned that his children were washing clothes and playing outside when the fire broke out. He had briefly left them to attend to something in the street. Within five minutes, shouts of “Fire, fire!” from neighbouring compounds alerted him. By the time he returned, the fire had already engulfed his room, making it impossible to access due to jammed doors. Similar situations occurred with two other tenants in the main building and two in the boys’ quarters.

The boys’ quarters apartments were occupied by a traditional medicine seller (Alagbo), and though we managed to salvage a few items from there, the main building was severely damaged by the fire.

Those present couldn’t save anything significant, including myself, who returned an hour or two after the incident. They attempted to tackle the fire with detergent and water.

We questioned the man whose apartment the fire originated from: “Were you cooking with an electric stove and forgot to switch it off?” “Do you keep any chemicals or inflammables that could have caused an explosion?

What were his responses?

He stated there was no electricity, so that was ruled out. He doesn’t know what caused the fire.

You mentioned having a son. Is he your only child?

No, we have grown-up children. One is already married, one is in Uyo, one is here in Lagos, and one is at a higher school polytechnic. The one staying with me was at the shop with his mother. I had gone out, and upon my return to the shop, I received a phone call around 1:30 pm informing me that fire had engulfed our building.

How did you feel upon receiving the news of the fire outbreak in your residence?

I was shocked. I rushed down, and from a distance, I could see the smoke. It was serious because once it started, it engulfed the entire building and brought down the roof.

Does the landlord also live in the compound?

No, the landlord doesn’t live there. He resides around Orile Iganmu.

So what has been the response of the landlord?

In January, rumours surfaced that the landlord intended to sell the house. To verify this, we consulted with the mother who originally rented the house to me before introducing her son as the new landlord, but we could not confirm it. When we asked him directly if he planned to sell, he denied it, insisting the property was solely his.

By March this year, the rumours intensified within the community. We expected the landlord or his mother to inform us if the house was indeed up for sale, especially since he acknowledged my role as the chief tenant and assured me of keeping us informed. However, from March to April, he did not make any such communication, although he used to visit regularly before then.

Ideally, if a property owner intends to sell, they inform their tenants, introduce the prospective buyer along with their terms, and allow time for relocation. We understood it was his prerogative to sell, but the silence was unexpected. Unfortunately, the house was engulfed by fire, leaving some tenants destitute, including some who are still hanging on with nowhere else to go.

I am currently wearing donated clothes and staying with a generous neighbour. Finding a new place to live is challenging, especially for those seeking single rooms or one-bedroom apartments, as they are scarce and expensive. None of us can afford such accommodations. The slippers I wear now are the same ones I had during the fire incident.

How does a fire start and destroy an entire house, including the roofs, within five minutes, without any wood or doors left intact? This is baffling.

The day after the fire, on May 12, 2024, my neighbour, whose room the fire started in, and another neighbour informed me that they had received calls from an unknown person asking when they would vacate the house. The person claimed they were told we were supposed to vacate by April 28th. When asked who provided their number, the caller mentioned the landlord had gone abroad.

Since learning this, we have been anticipating the landlord’s return or communication regarding a new buyer so we can understand our situation. The day after the incident, I called the landlord and informed him about the fire, to which he confirmed he was still in the country. His response was simply, “I’ve sold the house. I should have informed you, and for that, I apologise.

What actions did you take after that?

So, a week after the fire incident, I visited their house – the mother’s house in Orile Iganmu, as she was the one who originally rented the house to me and has always been kind to me. I told her, “I’ve come to update you on what happened, even if no one else has informed you.” I briefed her, but when I called her son, he didn’t answer despite several attempts. The mother and other family members initially didn’t believe the house had burned down or sold, so I sent them a video I recorded of the inferno.

A few days later, labourers arrived to demolish the house and erect a fence around the property. We’re unsure who sent or sponsored them to seal off the area, and some neighbours are still lingering nearby.

Did you have any outstanding rent arrears with the landlord?

Not at all. I can’t speak for the other tenants, but personally, I have no outstanding debts with him.

How have you been coping since the incident?

Life has been tough, to be honest. Both I and the other tenants are now homeless with nowhere to go. I’m staying with a generous Samaritan who has been kind to us, as we couldn’t find accommodation in time. There’s a scarcity of one-bedroom apartments available for common folk.

What valuable items did you lose in the fire?

We lost a lot – home appliances, clothes, awards, documents, certificates, souvenirs, agreements, my wife’s and children’s certificates, including mine, and various documents like my National Identity Number and voter card. Most painful were years of research work, manuscripts recorded on flash drives, videos, hard copies, and soft copies. We also lost three generators, a laptop, a complete desktop computer set, a freezer, a television, a stabilizer, a DVD player, household items, and personal belongings. Everything was destroyed. The mystery of how the fire started remains unanswered, as no one could salvage anything. This plight affects everyone, and I sympathise with others who lack the influence I have and are still struggling in Lagos. We appeal to the government and the public for assistance, and I’m willing to provide directions to anyone willing to visit and witness the devastation firsthand.

What kind of support do you need at the moment?

I have seen the struggles of others. Some have tried to help by donating clothes. What we really need now is accommodation or funds to secure accommodation. Additionally, some of us require psychological support and counselling. It has been tough.

How long do you think it will take to recover from this?

As for the research work that I’ve dedicated 37 years to, can I recover from that? Only God can help me with that, as I am losing sleep just thinking about all the effort that has gone to waste. I and the other tenants didn’t wrong anyone, so I trust that God will assist me in this regard. Quantifying the loss in terms of money would run into millions, considering the current inflation. If we talk about time, only time itself will tell. I don’t know. I leave it to God, but I am deeply saddened.

What are you thankful to God for?

I am thankful to God for the gift of life, both for me, my family, and the other tenants. I believe as long as there is life, there is hope.