Panic swept through parts of Yaba, Lagos, early Saturday as a fire erupted at the local market, destroying goods worth millions of naira.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze started around 1 a.m. near the Popo area of the market.
Videos circulating on social media showed thick smoke and flames consuming multiple shops, as traders and residents rushed to salvage their belongings.
Lugar Feliz, an eyewitness speaking during a TikTok livestream, said firefighters had arrived but faced challenges containing the fire.
Several social media users raised alarms about the incident, highlighting gaps in emergency response.
Adeoluwa (@Okunlola_Jude) claimed, “Woke up to the news that Yaba is burning, the shops just behind mine completely burnt to ground, billions gone like that.”
Another user, Sullex Print and Branding (@SullexBranding), alleged that only one of the three fire service trucks at the scene had water.
As of Saturday morning, the cause of the fire had not been determined, and Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service had yet to release an official statement on casualties or the full extent of damage.
Residents called for improved emergency preparedness to prevent similar losses in the future.
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