Shops destroyed as fire guts auto parts market in Lagos

Some sections of the Akere automobile parts market in the Olodi-Apapa area of Lagos state have been razed by fire.

The fire reportedly started around 3:00am on Wednesday.

The affected shops contained automobile spare parts.

Adeseye Margaret, director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, in a statement on Wednesday, said the cause of the inferno has not been ascertained.

Margaret said a male adult was “discovered” by police officers around the scene of the incident.

“At about 03:28 Wednesday wee hours, a Fire outbreak was alerted to Akere Spare Parts Market, Kirikiri Road, Akere Bus Stop, Olodi-Apapa, Ajegunle, Lagos that saw the Ajegunle Fire Station of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service as first respondent,” the statement reads.

“Upon arrival, it was discovered that rows of shops that traded in auto spare parts was well alight that led to Sari-Iganmu and Ilupeju Fire Crews of the Agency joining up to subdued the raging Fire and salvage a nearby major market Petroleum Filling Station with a fully loaded 33,000 liters PMS tanker amongst other adjoining buildings.

“However, a male adult was recovered by the Tolu Police Division of the Nigerian Police around the scene while the Lagos Neighborhood and Safety Corps and the Red Cross were also in attendance.”

Margaret said it will require a “detailed investigation” to ascertain the cause of the fire “as well as post-incident examination to account for the number of lockup shops and wares lost”.