The Lagos State Police Command on Friday said its men raided some shanties around the popular Alaba International Market in the Ojo Local Government Area of the state while acting on credible information.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this via his Twitter handle while denying online reports that the market was gutted by fire.
He stated that some suspected criminals were arrested after the raid while weapons were recovered from them.
Hundeyin noted that the shanties were thereafter set on fire by the police.
He wrote, “This is a false narrative! Acting on credible information, police officers from the 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.”
There was panic in the area after fire gutted shanties around the market.
It was also learnt that some traders in the market resorted to self-help to put out the fire before the arrival of emergency responders.
The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, in a statement, also confirmed that none of the stores in the market was affected.
She said, “It is instructive to confirm that shanties and not shops are on fire, please.”
She further stated that the incident degenerated into a security situation as officials of the agency were unable to gain access into the area to carry out their duties.
Adeseye said the agency was collaborating with security agents to address the situation.
