FAKE NEWS ALERT: Alaba Int’l Market Not On Fire

• Reports emerged on Friday afternoon that fire had gutted parts of the Alaba International Market in Lagos.

• Some reports claimed that “goods worth millions of Nigeria” were destroyed in the fire.

• However, the police have debunked the reports.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Lagos State Police Command has debunked a report of a fire at the Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos.

Earlier Friday afternoon, there were reports that shops within the market were on fire.

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The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also disclosed that it was aware of the reports but its crew was turned back — by an angry mob — from providing a response.

“Report reaching Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service indicates shops at the popular Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos are on Fire,” the service said in a statement.

“However, Fire Crew from Ojo, Sari-Iganmu and Ajegunle are being turned back by angry mobs from performing their statutory duty but presently on standby.

“The agency is consequently collaborating wth Security Agents to address it.”

However, the police spokesperson in Lagos, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, described the reports as “false”.

He revealed that it was police officers who set shanties around the Alaba market on fire after arresting suspected criminals using the location as a hideout.

“This is a false narrative! Acting on credible information, police officers from Ojo Division raided shanties around the market, arrested suspected criminals and recovered some weapons. The shanties were thereafter set on fire,” Hundeyin said in response to a report, claiming that fire gutted the market.

“Alaba Int’l Market is NOT on fire!”

Meanwhile, the Lagos Fire Service has confirmed that shanties, not shops, are on fire.

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“It is instructive to confirm that shanties and not shops are however on Fire,” it said in a post on Twitter.

 

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