A 60-year-old man identified as Etebet Oyemara has reportedly died in an inferno in Benin City, Edo State.
DAILY POST learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday night at No. 14 Benson Street, off Okhoro Road, in the state capital.
The deceased was said to be an usher and head of the electrical unit at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in the Okhoro area, where the incident took place.
When contacted, the Edo State Police Command confirmed the incident.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, said: “One 60-year-old, Etebet Oyemara, lost his life in the fire.”
Yamu added that investigation was ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
DAILY POST learnt that the deceased was indoor with his wife and other occupants of the house when the incident occurred.
The other victims of the inferno and the deceased’s family were reported to have been trapped inside the house by the blaze, leaving them little time to escape.
He was alleged to have been caught in the inferno while attempting to salvage property from the flames.
It was also learnt that the wife of the deceased, who sustained severe burns, is currently receiving treatment at the Emergency Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, Benin City.
A Mass was reportedly held on Monday afternoon in memory of the deceased, while arrangements are underway to convey his remains to his hometown in the eastern part of Nigeria.
Occupants of the affected house have appealed to the state government, well-meaning Nigerians, and other relevant authorities for support.
According to witnesses, it took the combined intervention of officials of the Edo State Fire Service and Guinness Nigeria Plc to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
