By Babalola Seyi
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has asked the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, to conduct a thorough investigation into the Akere Market fire incident and apprehend the offenders.
On Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu visited the site of the midnight fire that destroyed commodities and homes worth millions of naira at Akere Auto Spare Parts Market in Olodi Apapa in the state’s Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area.
The Governor, who visited with the victims of the fire, expressed his condolences and vowed his help for the traders in recouping their losses.
Unknown individuals were believed to have fired intermittently toward the market, killing one security guard and setting fire to the market.
Sanwo-Olu criticized the incendiary action, calling it “unfortunate,” and asked the Commissioner of Police to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the offenders.
He also expressed condolences to the deceased’s relatives and pledged aid with the deceased’s funeral.
The governor said, ”I commiserate with the family of the taxi driver who was somewhere close to the market premises but lost his life in the incident.
”I’m also here to share my sympathy with all shop owners who lost their means of livelihood in this fire incident. But we don’t want to pass judgment ahead of the investigation.
”In strong terms, I’m directing the Commissioner of Police to immediately launch a full investigation into the cause of this incident.
”Given the issues we are hearing around, I’m also directing the commissioner to tighten security around markets. All vulnerable markets must be protected.
”We have received the list of all shop owners affected and we’ll vet the list for compensation to help the victims back on their feet.”
