Several shanties and makeshift structures were yesterday destroyed and goods burnt after fire gutted the Oko Baba Plank Market at Ebute Meta.

The fire, which started around 1:50pm, was said to have been caused by an exploded gas cylinder.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), there was no death nor injury.

Permanent Secretary LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu  and Lagos office Coordinator for NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye who confirmed the incident, did not give the number of structures affected nor the estimate of properties lost.

Earlier, Oke-Osanyintolu raised alarm that hoodlums were obstructing rescue operation and requested more security cover to allow emergency workers contain the fire.

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Giving further update last night, he said the situation had been contained, adding that the fire was prevented from spreading to nearby buildings.

He said: “The agency deployed its resources to a fire outbreak at Okobaba Sawmill, Kadara Street, Ebute-Metta today, at about 1:57pm.

“Consequent upon the arrival of the LASEMA Response Team at the scene of the incident, it was discovered that several shanties had been engulfed by fire.

“Investigations revealed that the fire outbreak was caused by a sudden explosion of a gas cylinder while cooking.

“Fortunately, there was no loss of lives or injuries. The  inferno which cut across residential shanties on Okobaba, end of Kadara Street and Coates Street was extinguished by the combined efforts of the response team.

“The fire was prevented from spreading to Kano Street.  Other adjoining buildings surrounding the residential shanties were salvaged from the inferno. Dampening down concluded.”