No fewer than 300 shanties were destroyed as fire engulfed numerous wooden structures at Tejuosho Market in the Yaba area of Lagos State on Wednesday.
According to reports, the fire broke out at the market located along Tejuosho Canal, comprising shops and residences, at about 12:30 p.m.
It was gathered that the fire started from one of the rooms where a member of the community had left food on a gas cooker unattended.
In a matter of minutes, the flames spread to several wooden blocks along the canal, causing panic as residents fled in fear for their lives.
LASEMA, Lagos Fire Service, Nigeria Police (NPF), Lagos Neighbourhood Security Watch, and other emergency response teams were on-site to combat the inferno.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, along with Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, stated that the situation had been brought under control, with ongoing rescue efforts.
Oke-Osanyintolu said, “Upon arrival at the incident scene, it was discovered that several wooden shanties along Tejuosho canal were gutted by fire.
“Fire combat is presently ongoing to prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining buildings like NTA, Oba Tejuosho House, and other residential estates in the environ. Rescue operation still ongoing.”
This comes barely 24 hours after three persons were confirmed dead as a gas cylinder exploded in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
Director/chief executive officer of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS), Margaret Adeseye, who confirmed the development, attributed the explosion to mishandling of a gas cylinder.
“It is an explosion involving an industrial gas cylinder of about 50kg assembled at the frontage of a row of shops. Mishandling of a gas cylinder led to the explosion. Three bodies were recovered dead and one injured,” she said.
Adeseye said the Lekki Phase II Fire Station of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, complemented by Health Environment officials, military officials, Federal Road Safety Corps officials, and Ibeju Lekki Local Government, joined hands to combat the inferno.
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