Lone Survivor of Lagos Family Fire Dies After Battle with Severe Burns

The only survivor of a horrific fire that claimed the lives of a family of four in the Ita Marun community of Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, has died. Twenty-five-year-old Kehinde Oduse succumbed to his injuries early Tuesday morning at Gbagada General Hospital.

Kehinde had been battling severe burns since the incident on November 26, when he and his family were attacked in the early hours of the morning. His wife, 22-year-old Eniola, and their two young children, four-year-old Eri and two-year-old Onoara, were killed in the fire. The family had been sleeping when assailants entered their home around 2 a.m., doused their room with petrol, and set it ablaze.

Kehinde’s twin sister, Taiwo, confirmed his death, tearfully recounting how doctors had fought to save him but were ultimately unable to prevent his passing due to the extent of his injuries. “He gave up around 5 a.m. this morning. The doctors did all they could, but the burns were too severe,” she said.

When a correspondent visited Kehinde in the hospital last Sunday, he was seen in immense pain, muttering faint words as family members comforted him. Another relative, who identified himself as Razaq, expressed the family’s heartbreak. “We have lost him. He went through a lot of pain, but he hung on longer than anyone expected. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it,” he said.

Razaq also voiced concerns over the nature of the attack, calling it an act of conspiracy. He suggested the fire was linked to a dispute over the family’s ancestral land and urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation. “This must not be allowed to slide. We want justice for our family,” he said.