Alaba fire: We burnt shanties harbouring criminals in market, say police

The Lagos police command says its officers raided and set ablaze shanties at the Alaba International Market in the Ojo area of the state.

Benjamin Hundeyin, Lagos police spokesperson, in a tweet while reacting to a report of a fire incident at the market, said it was police officers from Ojo division, who set ablaze the shanties.

Hundeyin said the police officers recovered some weapons from suspected criminals at the shanties.

“This is a false narrative! Acting on credible information, police officers from Ojo division raided shanties around the market, arrested suspected criminals, and recovered some weapons,” the Lagos police spokesperson wrote.

“The shanties were thereafter set on fire. Alaba Int’l Market is NOT on fire!”

The comment of the Lagos police spokesperson countered an earlier statement released by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.

Earlier, the state fire agency announced that a fire outbreak occurred at the Alaba market.

Adeseye Margaret, director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, said the incident took place Friday afternoon, adding that the fire affected mainly the shanties used as shops.

The fire service director said an angry mob prevented the firefighters from gaining access to the affected areas to quell the inferno.