Globus Supermarket in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State, went up in flames, yesterday, with property worth millions of naira destroyed.

One of the female staff was said to have been killed in the inferno.

Other members of staff reportedly sustained injuries in the resultant stampede.

The cause of the fire remains unknown at press time, but eyewitnesses said the fire started about 11 a.m.
However, residents of the area faulted the delayed arrival of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, attributing it to why the fire was more devastating.

According to an eyewitness, identified simply as Joseph, “When the Lagos State Fire Service arrived about noon, they used the water they had to extinguish some parts but waited for hours before continuing the operation.

“They said there was no water and they were waiting for water to arrive before continuing the operation. Boys in the area decided to use their hands to remove some of the iron protectors around the building. In the process, a lady was rescued from the toilet.

“But I don’t know if she will survive because her hands and face were burnt before they took her to the hospital. We gathered that goods worth N300 million were burnt down.”

Another witness, Obinna, who sells opposite the building, said: “The fire started at 11 a.m. We didn’t know what happened, but smoke was coming out from the window. I was the one who alerted the management of the mall.”
Countering the information about the delay, Deputy Head of Operations, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mr. Olajide Ogabi, said the team arrived at the scene immediately after they were alerted.

He said: “There is no such thing as waiting for water. The Lagos State Government has provided vehicles for us to operate and we got here immediately we got the information

“The reason the fire is still ongoing is because we don’t know the contents of the items in the store, and we can’t ascertain that until we are done.

“A lady was rescued and she has been taken to the hospital for treatment. She is responding to treatment.”
However, a private guard opposite the Globus supermarket disclosed that the injured lady had passed on.

He said: “She is gone, her sister just left, crying over her demise. She said she died in the hospital