Fire Devastates Lagos Plank Market, Millions in Losses

The Oko Baba plank market in Ebute Metta, Lagos State, has been destroyed by fire.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) verified this in a statement issued on Sunday.

Nosa Okunbor, a LASEMA spokesman, said personnel from the LASEMA Response Team, LRU Fire Unit, and Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service had launched a search and rescue operation at Oko Baba plank market on Ibadan Street in Ebute Metta.

He stated that the initial cause of the fire remains unknown, and that no one was killed or injured as a result of the incident.

“The fire consumed the main plank market, major parts of the shanties and goods worth millions of Naira,” according to Okunbor.

“At 1020hrs, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) received distress calls over the 767 / 112 Toll-Free Emergency lines.

“The Agency dispatched its Cobra Squad from the Onipanu Base and arrived at the incident scene around 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.”

The LASEMA spokesman said that the fire has been completely extinguished as emergency responders have secured the entire area.

As a result, “dampening down is in progress to prevent re-ignition,” as were “occupants enlightened on the dangers, major causes, and ways of preventing fire outbreaks in market areas.”