*Goods worth millions of naira burnt
By Emeka Ugwuanyi
Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in the wee hours of Wednesday when a mysterious inferno gutted the Akere Spare Parts Market and other goods at Olodi-Apapa in Lagos State.
At the scene of the fire incident, the dead body of the market guard was recovered. The lifeless body of the 65-year-old guard had no traces of burning, therefore, he was suspected to have been shot the unknown hoodlums alleged to have caused the heinous crime.
Eyewitnesses account said the fire occurred at about 3.15 am on Wednesday.
The Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, told the Vanguard that firefighters promptly contained the fire before spreading to other parts of the area.
Adeseye said: “At about 03:28 Wednesday wee hours, a fire outbreak was alerted to Akere Spare Parts Market, Kirikiri Road, Akere Bus Stop, Olodi-Apapa, Ajegunle, Lagos that saw the Ajegunle Fire Station of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service as the first respondent.
“Upon arrival, it was discovered that rows of shops that traded in auto spare parts were engulfed in fire that led to Sari-Iganmu and Ilupeju Fire Crews of the Agency joining up to subdue the raging fire and salvage a nearby major market Petroleum Filling Station with a full loaded 33,000 litres PMS tanker among other adjoining buildings.
“However, a male adult was recovered by the Tolu Police Division around the scene and reported dead from a gunshot injury as he did not suffer any traces of burnt while the Lagos Neighborhood and Safety Corps and the Red Cross were also in attendance.
“The cause of the fire is suspicious and will require details investigation to be ascertained as well as post-incident enumeration to account for the number of lockup shops and wares lost.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the deceased was shot dead. He said: “A 65-year-old security guard in the market was shot dead. We have identified him and his corpse has been taken to the mortuary. An investigation is ongoing.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State governorship aspirant on the platform of Labour Party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, promptly visited victims of the fire incident at the scene to empathise with them. He promised that if voted as the governor of Lagos State, he would rebuild the market to international standard.
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