Just In: Fire Razes Amu Market In Lagos, Properties Worth Millions Destroyed

3 mins read

The popular Amu Plank Market in Mushin, Lagos, was razed by a midnight fire Saturday destroying properties worth millions of Nigeria.

There were no casualties as residents and traders battled without success to put out the fire.

Witnesses told our correspondent that officials of the Lagos State Fire and Safety Agency arrived the scene about four hours after the fire began.

But Lagos emergency officials said they arrived the scene within an hour of the inferno.

Tajud Sanni, the Youth Chairman of Amu Plank Market, insisted the fire officials arrived late.

“I was called at 12:30 a.m. that there is fire outbreak in the market but nobody knew the cause of the fire,” he said.

“I asked them to break the shops and make use of the fire extinguisher but it was not enough to quench the fire I was called back that the fire has not been quenched that they had informed the firefighters but unfortunately they didn’t respond on time”.

“We alerted them at 12 a.m. they did not appear until 4 a.m. in the morning on their arrival we were informed that they do not have water. The fire station in Surulere asked Mr Kamal to deposit his car before they could follow him to the fire incident.”

Mr Sanni said the traders are unhappy because the government failed to respond to their distress calls despite the taxes they pay.

“We are not happy with the state government the market has been burned tEd the ground, we are citizens we should be protected the damages in the market is more than 10 billion naira.

“Meanwhile, we had never experienced such in the market for the past 55 years. It is an international market and there is nothing to show any more, you can get all your building materials in Amu market.”

A shop owner who identified himself simply as Mr Abdullahi burst into tears while narrating his loss.

“The fire had extended beyond Amu market, Palm Avenue, is also affected, early this morning residents had gathered to quench the fire when it started around 12 a.m. but they keep pouring water but there was no effect.

“There are debts on ground, goods worth millions had been razed by fire now the market is burning to ground there is nothing we can do.

Mr Sanni said the traders are unhappy because the government failed to respond to their distress calls despite the taxes they pay.

“We are not happy with the state government the market has been burned tEd the ground, we are citizens we should be protected the damages in the market is more than 10 billion naira.

“Meanwhile, we had never experienced such in the market for the past 55 years. It is an international market and there is nothing to show any more, you can get all your building materials in Amu market.”

A shop owner who identified himself simply as Mr Abdullahi burst into tears while narrating his loss.

“The fire had extended beyond Amu market, Palm Avenue, is also affected, early this morning residents had gathered to quench the fire when it started around 12 a.m. but they keep pouring water but there was no effect.

“There are debts on ground, goods worth millions had been razed by fire now the market is burning to ground there is nothing we can do.

Mr Sanni said the traders are unhappy because the government failed to respond to their distress calls despite the taxes they pay.

“We are not happy with the state government the market has been burned tEd the ground, we are citizens we should be protected the damages in the market is more than 10 billion naira.

“Meanwhile, we had never experienced such in the market for the past 55 years. It is an international market and there is nothing to show any more, you can get all your building materials in Amu market.”

A shop owner who identified himself simply as Mr Abdullahi burst into tears while narrating his loss.

“The fire had extended beyond Amu market, Palm Avenue, is also affected, early this morning residents had gathered to quench the fire when it started around 12 a.m. but they keep pouring water but there was no effect.

“There are debts on ground, goods worth millions had been razed by fire now the market is burning to ground there is nothing we can do.