Police set Alaba market shanties on fire — Spokesman

THE Lagos State Police Command has taken responsibility for the fire outbreak at the Alaba International Market.

The ICIR had earlier reported that fire razed parts of the market on Friday, May 5.

The director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services Margaret Adeseye, who confirmed the incident to newsmen, said the fire impacted makeshift stalls within the market, commonly referred to as shanties.

Adeseye said efforts by firefighters to contain the inferno were resisted by some irate youths around the market.

She also disclosed that shops in the market were not affected by the fire outbreak.

However, in a series of tweets hours later, the state police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, said it was police officers from the Ojo division that the shanties on fire.

While dismissing earlier reports on the incident, Hundeyin said the officers recovered some weapons from suspected criminals at the shanties.

“This is a false narrative! Acting on credible information, police officers from Ojo division raided shanties around the market, arrested suspected criminals, and recovered some weapons,” he said.

“The shanties were thereafter set on fire. Alaba Int’l Market is NOT on fire!”

Lagos, a densely populated city, has experienced many fire outbreaks that resulted in loss of lives and property.

In 2019, a fire outbreak occurred at the popular Balogun market on Lagos Island, which is known for huge volumes of sale of textile and fashion items. The inferno destroyed many shops and goods worth millions of naira.

Similarly, in 2020, a fire outbreak was recorded at the popular Abule-Egba pipeline area of Lagos, which led to the loss of lives and property.

In March, fire gutted a spare parts market in the Ajegunle area of Lagos state, destroying items worth millions on naira.

The cause of these fire incidents has often been attributed to factors like power surge, poor safety measures, inadequate fire-fighting equipment, and poor infrastructure.

Last month, a fire incident was reported at Queens College, in the Onike area of the state.

No casualty was recorded in the incident as men of the state fire service quickly put out the fire.

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