Fire razes 50 shops in Badagry

Millions of Naira worth of goods destroyed in Ibereko Plank Market 

Traders in the Ibereko Plank Market, Badagry, are still counting their losses to a fire outbreak that razed no fewer than 50 shops and several millions of Naira worth of goods last Saturday.

The fire outbreak that began some minutes past four in the afternoon was attributed to an electrical fault in a lock up shop in the popular market.   Though the billowing smoke was noticed as soon as the fir started and alarm raised but the fire was already raging, spreading rather quickly into the building materials in the place.

The late coming of men of the Lagos State Fire Service, did also not help matter. At least 50 shops were burnt including a nearby Catholic Church.

An eyewitness, Lydia Ologbo, told The Guardian that the fire started from a shop owned by a trader, who was absent on the day of the fire outbreak.

According to her, other traders saw the smoke coming from the inside, and almost immediately the fire raged on all sides.   “We have so far counted up to 50 shops that were completely burnt.

The cause is still a mystery to the whole community. Despite efforts to stop the fire, it was just spreading rapidly. We called the fire people (firefighters) but they came late,” Ologbon said.

Completely razed in the disaster were building materials: planks, ceiling sheets, mattresses, and asbestos among other furniture materials.

General Coordinator of the market, Engr. Kehinde, though was not sure how the fire started, was certain that life has since been hellish for the traders who lost all their valuables in the disaster.

Kehinde said the cumulative loss is in the region of N1 billion.  He appealed to the State government to come to their aid.   Lawmaker representing Badagry II Constituency, Engr. Setonji David, said the extent of the damage would have been averted if the Fire Service Station had been closer to Ibereko and Ajara towns in Badagry.   It was gathered that the closest fire service station to the market is about 10 kilometres away.