Millions in goods lost as fire guts popular market
Story by Susan Mbamah
A massive fire has torn through the popular Arena Market in Oshodi, Lagos, destroying goods worth millions of naira.
The inferno, which started around 9 p.m. on Monday, swept through several stalls, wiping out electronics, spare parts, and other valuable merchandise.
Despite a swift response from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, which deployed multiple teams and trucks, many traders suffered irreparable losses. The firefighters were able to contain the blaze, but not before significant damage was done.
One of the most affected traders, Henry Nwankwo, a washing machine and spare parts dealer, recounted his devastating loss. “All my goods were affected, none of them survived.
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All of them were burned to ashes,” he said. Nwankwo also noted that his customers’ properties, left with him for repair, were also destroyed. “I got back from China two months ago because I imported washing machine spare parts, and the new goods were also affected,” he added.
Nwankwo mentioned that other nearby traders also suffered heavy losses. “There are like four or five other shops that were affected by the fire, but the main damage was to my shop and my neighbor’s shop. My neighbor sells solar panels, and he also said most of his goods were lost in the fire,” he explained.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but witnesses speculate it may have been caused by an electrical fault from a nearby transformer or an unattended heat source. An onlooker commended the quick response of the emergency services.
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“As at 10 p.m. yesterday, the fire service were here to help quench the fire. They entered the shops and came with two trucks in different positions and quickly helped to quench the fire from different directions,” the witness said.
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