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A fire outbreak gutted parts of Alakoro Ejalonibu Market in Oke-Arin Ebute Ero axis of Lagos Island Local Government Area on Saturday, before firefighters brought it under control.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the incident happened on February 21, 2026, at a famous market on the Island.
According to the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, the service received an emergency call around 2:42pm and immediately deployed firefighters to the scene.
She said the fire involved a three-storey commercial building used for warehouses, storage spaces and shops, adding that the flames later spread to the other building behind the first building, which also housed multiple shops and stores.
Adeseye stated that through coordinated firefighting operations and strategic deployment of resources, emergency responders were able to put off the fire and prevent it from spreading further.
“The fire was successfully confined to the second floor of the initial building, while, only the second and third floors of the adjoining structure were sparsely affected,” She said.
She noted that the immediate response of firefighters helped to stop the blaze from escalating to nearby properties within the market.
Fire crews from Ebute Elefun, Dolphin, Sari-Iganmu and Alausa Fire Stations were deployed to battle the fire. The Federal Fire Service and other emergency agencies were also available to work alongside other emergency responders.
The other responders at the scene included the Nigeria Police Force from Ebute Ero, the Lagos Ambulance Service, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority whose presence ensured crowd control, traffic management and public safety.
Adeseye confirmed that life was lost during the incident, while investigations have started to know the cause of the fire.
“No life was lost, and a preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing,” She said.
She also restated the agency’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state. She urged market operators and residents to take fire safety seriously.
She advised traders and members of the public to ensure proper storage of combustible materials and to promptly report emergencies to appropriate authorities to prevent avoidable disasters.
The incident caused heavy concern among traders and residents in the area before normal activities gradually returned following the successful containment of the blaze.
