Some traders in the Oko Baba plank market in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos State have accused the state government of deliberately setting fire to the market in a bid to dislodge them and residents.
The traders and some occupants of the shanties in the market disclosed this in separate interviews with PUNCH Metro on Sunday.
The market, which also had shanties erected in some parts, covers a large expanse of land extending to the waterside under the Third Mainland Bridge.
Our correspondent, who was at the scene of the fire incident, observed that officials of the Lagos State Building and Control Agency were setting fire to some of the wooden structures that served as abodes for some workers in the market.
Moving around the fire scene, some of the residents and traders were seen trying to salvage their properties from the inferno, while some scavengers took advantage of the situation to pick up items they found valuable.
Speaking with our correspondent, an occupant of one of the shanties, Monsurat Babalola, alleged that officials of the state government were responsible for the fire, contrary to claims that it originated from the market.
She stressed that the government’s action was aimed at dislodging the occupants of the market.
In her words, “There was no fire in the market. It was the government that came yesterday night and began setting fire to the wooden structures. We appealed to them to allow us to pick some of our properties, but they refused. What the government did is unfair.
“Nobody wishes to live in a place like this, but the economic situation has forced us to live this way, as we cannot afford the cost of rent. We are even paying about N36,000 to N66,000 as rent for occupying the wooden structures.
“We only heard that the Redeemed Christian Church of God, located close to this place, wants to use its land that was encroached upon, which is why they came to dislodge us.”
Another resident of the shanties, Kikelomo Olabisi, stressed that most of the residents chose the shanties as their abode because of the economic situation, which had made it difficult for them to rent a standard apartment.
She appealed to the government to assist the shanty occupants.
“I moved to this place not quite long ago. I paid N66,000 for a year’s rent and I have barely spent three months. The situation is sad. They did not pity us at all. Some of us have two or more children who we are fending for, and the economic situation is biting hard on us.
“It was the government that set fire to the market. They came yesterday and very early today. We were not informed that we should leave. If they had informed us, we would have relocated.
“The government should assist us because we are facing a lot.”
A trader who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity disclosed that although the government had informed the traders of its plan to relocate the market to Ikorodu, the attempt to dislodge them by setting fire to the market was not the best approach.
She lamented that some traders had their goods destroyed in the inferno.
She said, “Though the government had informed us that they wanted to relocate us to Agbowa in Ikorodu, not all of us have been relocated. Also, the distance is far from this place, which makes it difficult for us to relocate.
“The fire incident that happened was caused by the government to dislodge us. It caught us unaware because we were not informed that they would be dislodging us so soon.
“Several goods worth millions of naira were destroyed by the government’s actions. They did not even allow us to move our goods.”
However, a resident of one of the communities closer to the market, who did not want to be mentioned in print, alleged that the traders were illegal occupants of the land.
He stressed that there had been repeated notices sent to them over the years, but they chose to ignore them.
“Those traders are occupying the land free of charge. Some were even erecting structures and renting them out to people, exploiting the government. They have been notified several times, but they chose to remain there.”
When contacted on Sunday, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, promised to get back to our correspondent but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
“I will reach out to the ministry in charge and get back to you,” he said in telephone conversation.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the cause of the fire could not be ascertained.
LASEMA’s spokesperson Nosa Okunbor stressed that the intervention of emergency responders put the fire under control and prevented it from escalating.
“The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, received distress calls via the 767/112 Toll-Free Emergency lines at 1020hrs. The agency activated its Cobra Squad from the Onipanu Base and arrived at the incident scene at 11020hrs.
“Upon arrival at the scene, it was observed that a plank market and shanties spread across a large expanse of land were engulfed by fire. The cause and origin of the fire could not be ascertained at the time of reporting this incident.
“Collaborative efforts of responders at the scene contained the fire and prevented it from spreading to adjoining buildings before it was quickly subdued.”
He further stated that goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in the fire.
“The fire consumed the main plank market, major parts of the shanties, and goods worth millions of naira. No lives were lost, and no injuries were sustained.
“Occupants were enlightened on the dangers, major causes, and ways of preventing fire outbreaks in market areas,” Okunbor stressed.
