A mystery fire broke out from an Iroko in Badagry, yesterday, defying all efforts by the fire service to put it out.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Iroko is located around a traditional worship place in Awhanjigo Quarters in Badagry.
Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, told newsmen that the fire had been burning for several hours before the fire service arrived the scene.
“We got information on the fire at about 7:07am and we got to the scene at about 7:11 am. The fire started at the middle of the tree. We observed that the leaves around the stem were not burnt. After observing for some time, we decided to fight the fire, but to our surprise, the fire spread to the top.
“A chief priest in the area, one Chief Gengen, asked firemen to stop fighting the fire. We were told that this is the third fire incident on the Iroko.
“The first fire incident happened in the 1970s, the second in 1980s, before the latest one,’’ Fadipe quoted the chief priest as saying.
He said the fire service had evacuated people in the area to safety.
“There is a church, a post office and other buildings. We are still watching, while many people are coming to watch the mystery fire on the Iroko,” Fadipe said.