Fire destroys shops with goods worth millions in Lagos market

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said on Monday a market around the Ajah area of the state was engulfed by fire, destroying shops and goods worth millions of naira.

The Permanent Secretary of the agency, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed this in a statement made available to the newsmen in Lagos.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the fire incident happened late Sunday night at Ajah Market by Alesh bus stop in Lekki, Lagos.

"LASEMA, in response to distress calls from the 767 and 112 toll-free lines at 09.30hrs, activated its Emergency Response Team from Lekki Base.

“On arrival at the incident scene at 22.10 hours, it was discovered that several shops and stores housing combustible materials were engulfed by fire.

“Investigations conducted revealed that the immediate cause of the fire could not yet be ascertained as at the time of writing this report.

Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were recorded at the incident scene,” he said.

He said properties worth a fortune were destroyed in the inferno.

He added that the agency and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were able to curtail the fire from escalating to adjoining buildings.

“While fighting the fire, we were simultaneously trying to manage the hostile crowd, as the two are the only primary responders at the incident scene.

“The fire has been successfully extinguished by the emergency responders at the incident scene, and the operation concluded,” he said.