Police suspects arson as fire guts Lagos spare parts market
A fire suspected to be the work of arsonists gutted the Akere Spare parts market in Ajegunle, Olodi-Apapa on Wednesday morning killing one person.
The deceased, who was identified as the security man in the market, was said to have been shot by suspected arsonists while he tried to prevent them from burning down the market.
The Nation gathered that armed men stormed the market around 3 am, set several shops ablaze and also shot the security man before fleeing.
It was learnt that it took the combined efforts of policemen from Tolu Division and officials of the Lagos State Fire Service to put out the inferno.
Confirming the incident, the Fire Service said rows of auto spare parts shops were burnt.
It said the rescuers were able to contain the situation from escalating to a nearby gas station which had fully loaded 33,000 litre PMS tanker and adjoining buildings.
“However, a male adult was recovered by the Tolu Police Division of the Nigeria Police around the scene while the Lagos Neighborhood and Safety Corps and the Red Cross were also in attendance.
“The cause of the fire will require detailed investigation to ascertained as well as post-incident enumeration to account for the number of lockup shops and wares lost,” it said.
Contacted, the spokesman for the Lagos Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the fire was suspected to be arson.
