The Police command in Lagos State has begun an investigation into the fire incident at the Akere Motor Spare Parts Market, Tolu, Olodi Apapa Lagos, on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
The spokesperson of the state police command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident in a signed statement released on Wednesday March 8, 2023.
He confirmed the death of a 65-year-old security man in the affected market.
The spokesperson said the state Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa, has implored residents of the state to stay calm as the State Criminal Investigation Department has been order to be in charge of the case, in order to unravel the circumstances that triggered the incident.
He also calls on the residents not to give the incident any self motivated undertone, while giving them the assurance that the investigation will yield good results.
The Informant247 earlier reported that fire razed the Akere Spare parts market in Ajegunle, Olodi-Apapa, killing one man.
The victim of the fire incident who’s identified to be a security person in the market, was reportedly gunned down by suspected hoodlums when he attempted to stop them from burning down the market.
It was gathered that some armed hoodlums invaded the market around 3am, set many shops on fire and took the life of the security man before running away.
The combined efforts of police officers from Tolu Division and operatives of the Lagos State Fire Service assisted in putting off the fire.
The incident was confirmed by the state fire service, as it revealed that rows of auto spare parts shops were set on fire.
Report also has it that those who were present to rescue the situation prevented the inferno from migrating to a nearby gas station, which could have worsened the situation.
“However, a male adult was recovered by the Tolu Police Division of the Nigeria Police around the scene while the Lagos Neighborhood and Safety Corps and the Red Cross were also in attendance.
“The cause of the fire will require detailed investigation to ascertained as well as post incident enumeration to account for the number of lockup shops and wares lost,” it said.