Alaba Market fire: ‘We burnt shanties, not shops’ – Police clear air
Following widespread claims that the popular Alaba International Market in Ojo was razed, Friday, the Lagos State Police Command has stated that its operatives only set fire to shanties around the market said to be harbouring criminals after a raid at their hideouts, same day.
According to the police, the raid on the shanties uncovered assault weapons from the suspects, Friday, adding that the fire initially thought to be on shops at the Alaba market was a result of a raid on criminal’s hideout from where some arms were recovered.
The command’s spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the market was not on fire.
Hundeyin who said after their raid of the shanties in the market his command’s men recovered some guns, disclosed that they also decided to set the illegal structures ablaze.
He described media reports stating fire incident as ‘false narratives’ saying the command acted on credible intelligence.
“Acting on credible information, police officers from Ojo Division raided shanties around the market, arrested suspected criminals and recovered some weapons. 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. Alaba Int’l Market is NOT on fire!”
He said some people were arrested and are currently under investigations,
The police statement is further corroborated by the state Fire Service which disclosed, Friday, that its personnel arrived at the scene of the fire to discover that it was not the shops in the market but surrounding shanties.
According to the Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Adeseye Margaret, responders arrived at the scene of the fire after initially ‘being turned back by angry mobs,’ but later confirmed that ‘shanties and not shops are however on Fire.’
“Emergency Alert!
“Report reaching Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service indicates shops at the popular Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos are on Fire. 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 with Security Agents to address it.
“It is instructive to confirm that shanties and not shops are however on Fire,” the statement read.
