by Deji Abiodun
Two people have been confirmed dead in Lagos after a fire broke out in the popular Mile 12 market in the Kosofe area of the state. The fire, which burnt down 20 shops, started at about 4:45am on Friday, March 12.
“Fire outbreak occurred around 4:45am at Mile 12 Market . About 20 shops were completely burnt down, five motorbikes, one car, three buses and two trucks were also burnt,” Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said.
“We recovered two dead male bodies from the shops,” he said adding that the fire was eventually put out at 8.40am.
“The cause of the fire is still unclear but Oke-Osanyintolu stated that petrol and diesel had been stored in the affected shops.
Another eyewitness who was close to the scene of the incident tells NewsWireNGR that goods worth millions of Naira destroyed, with many critically injured.
Two people, 5 vehicles, 5 motor bikes and 20 shops were burnt this morning as fire razed the popular Mile 12 market, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
PM News gathered that some people who engaged in selling fuel and diesel in one of the shops in the market, may have caused the inferno as the fire started from that section.
Traders watched helplessly as their goods and shops worth millions of naira were destroyed by the fire.
General Manager, LASEMA, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed that two dead bodies were brought out of the ruins of the market, saying five motor bikes were also burnt.
He added that six vehicles, including one car, three buses and two trucks were burnt in the inferno, adding that 20 shops were also consumed by the fire.
He said some unscrupulous persons were selling petro and diesel in a shop in the market, saying that the fire was put out at about 8:40am.
“The fire started at about 4:42am, it occurred at the oil and fuel section, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“LASEMA, Lagos State Fire Service and other emergency responders are on ground to salvage the situation. Five motor bikes, one car, three buses, two trucks and two burnt dead bodies, 20 shops were affected. Recovery operation is still in progress,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
