A massive fire broke out at a market in Ikotun, Lagos, causing significant damage to several shops.
The blaze, believed to have originated from a gas cylinder explosion at one of the shops, was reported around 2:10 p.m. on Saturday.
At least seven shops were affected, resulting in significant damage to goods. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported as of now.
Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the incident stating “Shops are on fire at a Market at Council Bus Stop which resulted from leakage of a gas cylinder in use at one of the shops, which led to an explosion and spread to several other shops.”
Firefighters from Ejigbo and Isolo stations, along with personnel from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and the Nigerian Police Force from Ikotun Division, were on the scene to battle the flames.
“The market was full of shoppers when suddenly we heard a loud blast, and within a twinkle of an eye, a ball of fire and thick black smoke took over the cloud,” shared a witness.
As of 3:30 p.m., the fire was brought under control and completely extinguished by the efforts of Ejigbo and Isolo Fire Stations, LASEMA, and the Nigerian Police Force from Ikotun Division.
Adeseye attributed the cause of the inferno to negligence in the refilling of a gas cylinder by the dealer.
