Goods worth several millions of naira were yesterday destroyed by
fire which gutted a market at the Low Cost Housing Estate, Oke-Afa, in
Ejigbo Local Council Developmental Area of Lagos State.
It was gathered that 20 shops were affected by the fire suspected to have been caused by power upsurge.
This
came as tragedy struck, weekend, in Ikorodu area of Lagos State
following the electrocution of a man by a high tension wire that
snapped.
It was learnt that an alarm was raised by a night guard, who
noticed smoke billowing from one of the shops moments after power was
restored, following which youths in the area battled to contain the
situation.
But their efforts were in vain as the fire spread to other shops, where power generating sets were kept.
The
youths, it was gathered, forced some of the shops open and took the
goods to safer place. Some shop owners, who were contacted reportedly
rushed to the scene to salvage some of their wares. While some of them
succeeded, many others did not.
When we visited the scene at 3 p.m., yesterday, the affected shop owners were seen lamenting their loses.
Confirming
the incident, the Lagos State Fire Service Director, Mr Rasaq Fadipe,
said when news of the incident reached them, two trucks from Isolo and
Ikotun fire stations were drafted to the scene to put out the fire,
adding that no life was lost.
Electrocution
The deceased
identified as Ahamed Abas, was reportedly in the company of an
undisclosed friend inside a commercial bus at 5.45a.m., Saturday.
On reaching Disu Ajegbe Street, the duo reportedly saw a high tension wire which snapped from a pole and resulted in a fire.
The fire, according to the Lagos State Fire Service Director, Rasaq Fadipe, was spreading towards an auto parts shop.
Fadipe
said an eye witness narrated that Abas alighted from the commercial
bus and attempted to throw the wire away from the auto parts shops, with
his bare hand, only to be electrocuted.
