No fewer than 17 shops were destroyed in an early morning fire outbreak at Sabo Market in Ikorodu, Lagos, after a blaze swept through a section of the market at about 1:10 a.m. on Tuesday.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said its Tiger Squad, working alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, swiftly responded to the incident and successfully contained the fire before it spread to other parts of the market.
According to LASEMA, preliminary investigations indicate that the fire started in one of the shops and spread to adjoining shops.
The agency said the incident was suspected to have been caused by an electrical surge while public power supply was on.
A post-incident assessment revealed that 17 of the 32 shops in the affected row were razed, destroying provisions, groceries, foodstuffs and other valuable goods.
However, no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded, while the remaining shops in the section and adjoining parts of the market were saved through the timely intervention of emergency responders.
LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, commended the coordinated efforts of the agency’s Tiger Squad and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service for preventing a more devastating incident.
He urged traders and market leaders to prioritise electrical safety by ensuring proper wiring, avoiding overloading electrical appliances and carrying out regular inspections of electrical installations.
He also advised residents to report emergencies promptly through the state’s toll-free emergency lines, 112 and 767.
Written by Yemisi Dada