Rev sister who died trying to save pupils caught in Lagos explosion buried

Rev Sister Henrietta Alokha

Rev. Sister Henrietta Alokha, the deceased principal of Bethlehem Girls College, who died rescuing her pupils during a gas explosion in Abule-Ado area of Lagos, has been buried.

A funeral mass was held in her honour on Thursday at the Sacred Heart Novitiate Chapel, Atani-Uromi, Edo State.

Bethlehem Girls College was among several buildings affected by the explosion on March 15 in Abule-Ado, near the International Trade Fair Complex, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos.

Sis Alokha, it was said, did a headcount after she thought she had rescued all the children.

She then realised some were missing and went back for the rescue.

The cleric was able to rescue the pupils but was killed after a roof collapsed on her.

Several pupils were injured in the incident.

More than 50 buildings in the area were affected by the explosion, with hundreds of residents made homeless.

Several vehicles parked in the area were also destroyed by the explosion.

Overall, about 25 corpses were recovered at the explosion site.

Lagos State Government has set up a relief fund for victims of the explosion with an initial deposit of N250 million.