Nigerian Man holds on to his baby while hanging off balcony as fire engulfs his house (video)

   

In a heart-stopping moment that has since gone viral, a Nigerian man was captured clinging to his baby while hanging off the edge of a balcony as fire ravaged his apartment. The dramatic incident occurred in the early hours of Monday in the densely populated area of Surulere, Lagos.

Eyewitnesses say the fire broke out around 3:00 a.m., reportedly due to an electrical fault. Within minutes, thick smoke and flames had consumed most of the building’s top floor, leaving residents scrambling for their lives.

In the now-viral video, the man—whose identity has not yet been confirmed—can be seen dangling from the second-floor balcony, holding his infant tightly in one arm while using the other to grip the edge of the ledge. The baby, wrapped in a blanket, appeared calm despite the chaos, a testament to the father’s steady grip and determination.

Neighbors and passersby can be heard shouting directions and urging the man to hold on. One resident, Tolu Adebayo, who helped organize the rescue, said, “He didn’t think of himself. He only cared about that child. We knew we had to get to them fast before the smoke overcame them both.”

Within minutes, a group of young men scaled the lower balconies and formed a human ladder to reach the man and his baby. Cheers erupted from the crowd as both were pulled to safety.

Miraculously, no fatalities have been reported from the incident, though several people suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation. Emergency services arrived shortly after the rescue and were able to extinguish the blaze before it spread to neighboring buildings.

The man’s heroic act has drawn widespread praise online, with many Nigerians calling him a symbol of bravery and selfless fatherhood. Social media users have flooded the video’s comment section with messages of admiration and offers of support.

“This man deserves national recognition,” one comment read. “In a moment of fear and chaos, he chose to protect his child at all costs.”

Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the structural damage to the building. Meanwhile, local charities have begun mobilizing resources to support the displaced families.