A devastating fire on Tuesday evening engulfed parts of the popular Alaba International Market in Lagos, destroying several shops and sparking panic among traders and residents.
A live TikTok broadcast by user KB Clothings showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from different sections of the market as traders and onlookers screamed helplessly.
Eyewitnesses said many traders broke down in tears over the loss of their goods, while others made frantic efforts to retrieve their wares before the flames spread to nearby shops.
Operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service were seen battling to contain the inferno, though the blaze was still raging as of press time.
“The fire spread so fast. We were calling the security and fire service, but it took time before they arrived,” one trader lamented.
Witnesses reported that the fire ripped through rows of locked shops and warehouses, with some traders accusing market security of responding too slowly to distress calls.
Located along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, the Alaba International Market is one of Nigeria’s largest hubs for electronics and building materials, hosting thousands of traders from across the country and West Africa.
The cause of the fire had yet to be determined at the time of filing this report.