Gas explosion rocks Orile-Iganmu market ..goods worth millions destroyed

Gas explosion rocks Orile-Iganmu market

..goods worth millions destroyed

By Benedicta Aboh

Panic gripped residents of Orile-Iganmu, Lagos, on Sunday as a gas explosion tore through a section of the Orisunmibare Market, off Baale Street, destroying several shops and property worth millions of naira.

Although no life was lost, the fire, which erupted around 2:13 p.m., spread rapidly through the market, forcing traders and residents to flee for safety.

The explosion reportedly originated from a gas retail outlet storing multiple cylinders of varying sizes.

An eyewitness, identified simply as Eriba, who narrowly escaped the incident, said:

“I was inside when it happened. Around here, we have three filling stations — the MRS filling station opposite my street, another gas company behind my street, and a man with a big gas shop. They said one of the boys there was pressing his phone when the explosion occurred. The fire spread fast because nearby shops also used camp gas for cooking.”

Confirming the incident, the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, said firefighters responded promptly and brought the situation under control.

“No life was lost, except for one person who sustained a minor hand injury,” she stated.

Meanwhile, another team of firefighters attended to a separate emergency involving a 33,000-litre petrol tanker that crashed along the Apapa–Oshodi Expressway, near the Berger Car Depot.

The tanker, with registration number AAB-942YC, reportedly spilled its contents after colliding with a Mercedes-Benz Jeep (plate number LSR 606HX) and seven stationary vehicles displayed for sale.

Adeseye explained that the quick intervention of the Ajegunle and Ijegun-Egba fire crews prevented a major disaster.

“The remaining fuel was safely transferred to another tanker, and recovery of the damaged vehicles is ongoing,” she said.

In a separate development, the Fire Service also rescued a 55-year-old man trapped inside an underground drainage channel along Ikorodu Road, near Idiroko Bus Stop, inward Maryland, on Saturday afternoon.

Adeseye said the Ilupeju Fire Station responded to a distress call received at 12:24 p.m.

"Upon arrival, our team found that the man had accidentally fallen into a manhole. Using specialized equipment, our personnel conducted a confined-space rescue and recovered him alive. He was later handed over to officers from Anthony Police Division for further action,” she added.

The operation, which lasted until 3:41 p.m., was successfully concluded with the area secured.

Adeseye reaffirmed the Fire Service’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Lagos, noting that despite multiple emergencies within 48 hours, “all incidents were efficiently contained without any loss of life.”