Mystery fire kills Septuagenarian in Lagos

A 67-year-old woman was burnt to death in an early morning fire at a wing of a twin-duplex on 511 Road, Festac Town, Lagos, today.

The Commander, Festac Fire Station, Mr Chinyere Azubuike, said the body of the deceased has been handed over to the police.

The Divisional Police Officer in Festac, CSP Muhammed Muazu, also confirmed the death.

Muazu added that the husband of the dead woman, who was also injured in the fire, was responding to treatment in an hospital.

A neighbour, Mrs Ayinke Badru, told the News Agency of Nigeria at the scene of the incident that the fire started around 1 a.m. on the first floor of the twin duplex.

Badru said that the 20-year-old son of the late seammistress escaped from the burning house and alerted neighbours who then called the fire services and the police.

According to the neighbour, the cause of the fire remained a mystery as there was no public power supply in the area at the time of the incident, and the kitchen of the house was unaffected.

The entire duplex, with wooden partitioning and flooring, was burnt.

The adjoining duplex was only slightly affected.