An early-morning fire on Wednesday gutted the popular Alaba Rago Market in the Ojo area of Lagos State, destroying goods worth millions of naira.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident, stating that the fire broke out at midnight. In a statement, the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu, said, “The immediate or remote cause of the fire could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report.”
According to Dr. Oke-Osayintolu, LASEMA’s Emergency Response Team from Igando swiftly mobilized to the scene following distress calls from the area. “Upon arrival, it was discovered that some shanty shops were engulfed in flames. The team activated the State’s emergency response plans and collaborated with other responders,” he added.
Firefighters from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, alongside LASEMA officials and other emergency responders, worked tirelessly to contain the blaze. The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed that the fire had been brought under control, preventing it from spreading to adjacent properties.
Although the cause of the fire remains unknown, authorities are investigating the incident. The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, but the destruction has left traders counting their losses.
