Midnight Inferno Guts Storey Commercial Building In Ikeja Computer Village
Property worth several millions of naira was destroyed in the early hours of Tuesday after a fire outbreak razed a one-storey commercial building along Somoye Street in the bustling Computer Village area of Ikeja, Lagos State.
The fire, which reportedly broke out around midnight, engulfed a commercial structure housing dealers in computers and computer accessories, sending shockwaves through the popular technology hub.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze spread rapidly due to the high concentration of combustible materials within the building, with flames consuming the entire upper floor before emergency responders arrived.
No fatalities were recorded in the incident. However, an official of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service sustained minor injuries during firefighting operations and was treated on the spot by officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).
Following distress calls, firefighters from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, in collaboration with personnel of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), swiftly mobilised to the scene.
Their timely intervention successfully contained the inferno and prevented it from spreading to adjoining buildings within the densely packed commercial district.
Confirming the incident, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed that all goods and valuables stored in the affected building were completely destroyed.
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“All goods and properties worth several millions of naira stored therein were totally destroyed by the conflagration,” he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu added that an on-site assessment revealed partial structural compromise, necessitating urgent evaluation to determine the building’s safety.
“Upon arrival, the LASEMA Response Team conducted a comprehensive risk assessment and cordoned off the affected area. Safety measures were immediately activated to prevent damage to adjoining structures and the surrounding environment,” he explained.
Although the immediate and remote causes of the fire remain unknown as of press time, investigations have commenced by relevant emergency and regulatory agencies to establish the source of the inferno and prevent a recurrence.
Firefighting operations were successfully concluded, while damping-down activities continued to eliminate residual heat and avert possible re-ignition.
Meanwhile, distraught traders, residents, and sympathisers gathered at the scene as affected shop owners assessed the scale of their losses, with many lamenting the devastating impact of the incident on their livelihoods.