Traders at the popular Army Arena Market in Oshodi, Lagos, were thrown into panic on Tuesday evening following a devastating fire outbreak that razed several sections of the market.
The fire reportedly broke out at about 6 p.m., sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky and forcing traders to hurriedly scramble to salvage their goods. Videos shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed scenes of chaos as affected traders shouted for help while flames spread across parts of the bustling market. Other footage captured firefighters battling the inferno in an effort to contain it.
As of the time of filing this report, there were no official details on casualties or the estimated value of goods destroyed in the fire.
The latest incident comes barely a week after a similar tragedy at the popular Balogun Market in Lagos. On Christmas Eve, a fire that reportedly started at the Great Nigeria Insurance building on Martins Street spread rapidly to at least five other buildings, leaving many traders counting their losses.
Tuesday’s blaze is also not the first fire incident at the Arena Market this year. In August, a major inferno swept through the market, destroying goods worth millions of naira. While reports at the time attributed the fire to a power surge, some traders disputed the claim.
Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the cause of the latest fire outbreak.
