A section of the Alaba International Market in Lagos State was engulfed by fire on Tuesday evening, destroying goods and property worth millions of naira. The full extent of the damage is yet to be ascertained.
Videos shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed thick smoke and flames rising from the furniture section of the popular market, located near the Ojo Local Government Secretariat in Ojo town.
An X user, Ikechukwu Ude, who posted footage from the scene, said the blaze started from “a little spark” before spreading rapidly through adjoining shops. In one of the videos, traders could be seen standing helplessly at a distance, watching as their shops and goods were consumed by the fire.
As of the time the videos were recorded, it was unclear whether officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service or other emergency responders had arrived at the scene. Eyewitnesses could be heard calling for help and criticising the slow response of market security personnel.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the cause of the fire or the extent of losses.
