Fire has reportedly destroyed parts of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, (SCOAN) and the tomb shelter of the late founder of the church, Prophet T.B. Joshua in the Agodo area of Ikotun, Lagos State.
Confirming the incident, the Head of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, Margaret Adeseye, said the fire affected the shelter covering the late pastor’s tomb.
She said, “It is confirmed that a section around the tomb of the late pastor TB Joshua caught fire. A shelter was built to cover the tomb because it is an open place, so, it was the shelter that caught fire. But we were able to curtail it and it did not spread beyond where it started. We have yet to identify the cause of the fire.”
However, a resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the fire started around 6.30 pm on Wednesday.
He said, “The affected property is on Ajisebiri Street, Agodo. The house started burning around 6.30 pm.
“The compound of the house is big, so nobody can see what they are doing inside. Also, officials putting out the fire didn’t allow anybody inside.”
The Acting Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, also confirmed the incident.
He said, “The incident happened at a building belonging to the late pastor. The late pastor usually went there to relax and meditate. Federal fire service officials moved in to put out the fire.”
Reacting, The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) yesterday said it had yet to ascertain the cause of the fire outbreak on Wednesday, at its old site Agodo, Egbe; two kilometres from SCOAN headquarters cathedral.
It said the fire had since been put out and assured the public that a review was ongoing, stating that there was no need for panic or “unnecessary speculations.”
