No fewer than 11 shops have been destroyed by a devastating fire that swept through Alayabiagba Market at Boundary, Ajegunle, Lagos.
The fire reportedly started in a gas retailer’s shop due to a gas cylinder leakage, which triggered an explosion and rapidly spread to nearby shops.
Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday.
He revealed that emergency responders were alerted via the 767/112 emergency numbers and arrived at the scene at 9:37 am to contain the blaze.
The statement partly read: “In response to distress calls via the 767/112 Toll Free Emergency numbers at 0920hrs, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, activated its response team from Onipanu Base.
“Upon arrival of the Eagle response team at the incident scene by 0937hrs, it was observed that some shops at the Alayabiagba market were engulfed by fire.
“Investigations conducted revealed that the explosion originated from a gas retailer’s shop where gas cylinders of various sizes were stored, as a result of gas leakage from one of the cylinders before spreading to other shops in the location above.
Collaborative efforts of the cobra team with the fire men at the scene have contained the fire and prevented it from spreading to adjoining buildings. The fire has been extinguished.
“A total of 11 shops were affected by the fire as analysed below; 2 shops of gas retailer shops; 9 others selling clothes, phones, PVC pipes, daily needs; Properties worth millions of naira were lost to the inferno.”
The agency reiterated its commitment to swift responses during emergencies to minimize damage and loss of property.
