A devastating fire erupted in the early hours of Wednesday at the Alaba Rago Market in Lagos State’s Ojo area, reducing goods worth millions of naira to ashes.
The blaze reportedly began around midnight, swiftly engulfing the market’s shanty shops.
Responding to distress calls from traders and residents, emergency teams, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, promptly arrived at the scene.
Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, stated that the agency’s Dolphin Response Team and other units acted quickly to contain the fire, successfully preventing it from spreading to nearby properties.
“The emergency response plans were promptly initiated, and our team worked tirelessly alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to put the situation under control,” Oke-Osayintolu said.
Director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, also confirmed that the fire had been curtailed, ensuring minimal collateral damage to nearby structures.
While no casualties was reported, the fire destroyed numerous shops, leaving traders counting heavy losses.
As of the time of reporting, the immediate or remote cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
The Alaba Rago Market is known for its vibrant trade in livestock, foodstuffs, and other commodities. Many traders affected by the fire expressed grief over the loss of their goods and livelihoods.
Efforts to ascertain the total value of the damage are ongoing as authorities continue investigations into the cause of the fire.
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