Fire Guts Alaba International Market In Lagos, Shops And Goods Destroyed

A fierce blaze swept through parts of the Alaba International Market in Lagos on Tuesday evening, destroying numerous shops and sending hundreds of traders into panic.

Videos from a live TikTok stream by user KB Clothings captured the chaos as thick black smoke rose over the market and desperate traders shouted for help. Many could be seen crying over the loss of their goods, while others frantically tried to rescue their merchandise before the fire spread further.

Firefighters from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service raced to the scene to battle the flames, which continued to burn late into the evening. Witnesses said the fire spread rapidly through locked shops and warehouses, with several traders accusing market security officials of reacting too slowly.

Alaba International Market, situated along the Lagos-Badagry expressway, is one of Nigeria’s largest trading hubs for electronics and building materials, attracting thousands of merchants and customers from across the country and neighboring West African nations.