A fire has engulfed the Oko Baba plank market in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos State.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday.
According to LASEMA spokesperson Nosa Okunbor, officials from the LASEMA Response Team, LRU Fire Unit, and Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service have initiated a search and rescue operation at the Oko Baba plank market, located on Ibadan Street, Ebute Metta.
He said the immediate cause of the fire is unknown, adding that no life was lost or injuries sustained as a result of the incident.
“The fire consumed the main plank market, major parts of the shanties and goods worth millions of Naira,” Okunbor said.
“The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, received distress calls via the 767 / 112 Toll-Free Emergency lines at 1020hrs.
“The Agency activated it’s Cobra Squad from the Onipanu Base and arrived the incident scene at 11020hrs.
“Upon arrival at the scene, it was observed that a plank market and shanties spread on a large expanse of land was engulfed by fire.
“The cause and origin of the fire outbreak could not be ascertained as at time of reporting this incident.”
LASEMA spokesperson Nosa Okunbor stated that the fire has been fully extinguished, and emergency responders have secured the entire area.
According to him, the “dampening down is in progress to prevent re-ignition,” with “occupants enlightened on the dangers, major causes, and ways of preventing fire outbreaks in market areas.”