By Christopher Oji
Fire has gutted the popular Olowu Automobile spare part market ,Ikeja , Lagos Thursday morning.
This fire incident is happening few days that there was a fire outbreak at Balogun Market and few weeks that fire gutted Akere market in Apapa.
The Olowu Automobile Spare parts market was recorded early Thursday morning. Although no life was lost and no one was injured during the inferno,but the traders are suspecting foul play, saying that the fire incidents are becoming almost a weekly occurrence.
The fire disaster which was reported to have started at about 2.30 affected 13 shops, four warehouses and one restaurant.
The Commandant 9th Brigade, Ikeja, the National Emergency Management Agency( NEMA) team, the Police , Fire Service and other emergency responders were on the ground putting out the fire and making sure it didn’t escalate to other areas.
The cause of the fire could not be determined as at the time of filling this report, but the Chairman of the traders Association, Mr. Bassey Ikpendu, who applauded the efforts of the State Fire Service that prevented the escalation of the incident due to the combustible materials that were involved, said that one of their apprentice slept in the building and noticed the fire but by the time he got out, the the fire had engulfed the building and immediately fire service was contacted which responded promptly.
Spokeman of NEMA South West zone, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye who was on the ground confirmed that no injury or death was recorded during the fire outbreak.
However, the Traders were seen lamenting the incissant fire attacks on Ndigbo dominated market while calling on the Lagos State Government to wade into the constant fire incidents.
Magnus Madukaife, said, ” we are still under attack because of the last General elections. If you check out the tragectory of fir incidents that is affecting markets own by Ndigbo, you will agree with me that it is not natural disaster, but man made. After Akere market, it was Balogun and now it Olowu. Some people somewhere have decided to punish Ndigbo by burning their shops”.
Madukaife wants the State Governor Mr Babajide-Sanwo-Olu and the State Commissioner of Police,Mr. Idowu Owohunwa to wade into the matter and stop the wanton destruction of people’s property,” see the magnitude of what the evil people have destroyed”.