Fire destroys billions of naira property at Ketu Plank Market

Etim Ekpimah

Early morning fire on Sunday at Ketu Plank Market on Demurin Street, Ketu, Lagos, have destroyed valuable property worth billions of naira.

It was learnt that emergency responders comprising Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA Response Team and the Lagos State Fire Service had curtailed the raging inferno.

The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, LASEMADr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said the cause of the fire incident had yet to be known.

According to him, the fire started from one part of the market, which spread to other sessions of the market. He added that there is extensive damage to valuable goods destroyed by the fire.

“Fortunately, no lives, were lost in the inferno which has been brought under control and dampened down,” he said.

Oke-Osanyintolu added that In another part of Lagos, the LASEMA Response Unit has recovered a trailer conveying a 40ft container that ran over a culvert at Mile 2, inward Kirikri earlier early Sunday.

He said: “Investigation by the LRT determined that the accident was a result of mechanical error (brake failure) of the trailer.

“No loss of life, nor injuries were recorded in the incident where the LRT, LASTMA and men of the Nigerian Police were responders.

“The affected trailer has been evacuated from the road to a layby with aid of the agency’s heavy-duty equipment.”

He, however, urged members of the public to always exercise caution, especially when dealing with heavy duty equipment or machinery.