A tragic residential fire incident on New Year’s Day has claimed the life of an 11-year-old child in Yenagoa, the capital city of Bayelsa State in southern Nigeria, highlighting renewed concerns over fire safety during festive celebrations.
Okay News reports that the fatal incident was one of several fire outbreaks recorded across different parts of Nigeria during the holiday period, including Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, as well as Lagos, Imo, Gombe, Kwara, and Bayelsa states.
Details of the incident were disclosed on Thursday by the Federal Fire Service, Nigeria’s national emergency agency responsible for fire prevention and response. The information was contained in a statement issued by the agency’s spokesperson, Paul Abraham.
According to the statement, firefighters in Bayelsa State responded to a residential fire outbreak in Yenagoa involving a wooden structure. While emergency responders were able to salvage property valued at approximately ₦10 million, losses were estimated at about ₦20 million.
“In Yenagoa, firefighters responded to a residential fire involving a wooden structure. Although property worth about ₦10 million was saved, losses were estimated at ₦20 million. Sadly, the incident claimed the life of an 11-year-old child, with preliminary findings indicating the fire was caused by a candle left unattended,” Abraham stated.
The Federal Fire Service also reported a separate fire outbreak shortly after midnight at Cake Hot Restaurant, located within River Plate Park in Wuse, a major district in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city. Firefighters, working alongside personnel of the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service, successfully contained the blaze.
“Shortly after midnight, at 00:23 hours on Thursday, January 1, firefighters were mobilised to a fire outbreak at Cake Hot Restaurant within River Plate Park, Wuse, Abuja. Crews arrived promptly and, in joint efforts with the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service, successfully contained the blaze, preventing what could have escalated into a major disaster in the busy recreational area,” the statement read.
While a section of the garden area was affected, authorities confirmed that no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded. Property valued at approximately ₦1.5 billion was saved, while losses were estimated at ₦500 million. Preliminary investigations linked the fire to objects thrown during New Year celebrations, reinforcing warnings against the use of fireworks.
Abraham further disclosed that firefighters responded to multiple incidents in Lagos State in southwestern Nigeria, Imo State in southeastern Nigeria, as well as Gombe and Kwara states in the north, successfully preventing further escalation and reducing damage.
The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, expressed sympathy to families affected by the fires and urged Nigerians to observe strict fire safety measures, especially during the harmattan season, a dry period known to increase fire risks.
“From Abuja to Yenagoa, fire can break out in seconds. But with vigilance and adherence to basic safety measures, many of these incidents are preventable. Lives and livelihoods must always come before celebrations,” Adeyemi said.
He added that the nationwide readiness of firefighters during the festive period, supported by a directive suspending leave for personnel, ensured swift responses to emergencies across the country.
