Barely 24 hours after an ethnic clash at Ilepo Market in the Oke-Odo area of Lagos State, the popular second-hand market, Katangowa is on fire.
The inferno which razed goods and shops in the Katangowa market, located in Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, was said to have started around 3:00am on Monday.
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The operatives of the Lagos State Fire Service have since been mobilized to extinguish the fire.
Prior to the fire outbreak, a clash ensued between two ethnic groups, when a Hausa porter, popularly known as Bolar boy, mistakenly hit a Yoruba man with the tray he was using to convey goods for traders. The disagreement was said to have degenerated into a fight between the duo.
Nairametrics learnt that just when the men were exchanging words, hoodlums from both ethnic groups took over the fight, which turned to a free-for-all.
What you should know: There are fears among traders at the Ile-Epo and Katangowa markets that gutted fire, as some persons claimed the fire outbreak isn’t a coincidence.
Nairametrics learnt that the fire incident at Katangowa, which caused panic on Monday, has raised questions among the traders.
Any threat? The clash between the Yoruba and Hausa ethnic groups wasn’t the only one that posed a major threat to consumers and traders, the fire incident in Katangowa market also posed fears as many are worried about their safety.
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One Bello Ololade said, “I am not the only that is scared of going to the market now, people who live around here would not want to do that too because of their safety. Some of my neighbours sustained injuries yesterday because they were in the market when the clash happened.”
Like Ololade’s statement, Bisi Oyekan said she doesn’t have any reason to go to the market at least for now. “What happened here today is a clear indication that it is not safe anymore to come to the market. I would rather buy whatever I want to buy in the street, than come to the market where my life is threatened because I’m a Yoruba,” she added.
