A fire broke out at a shopping complex in Ikotun, Lagos State, destroying 24 shops and their contents in a storey building covering about 972 square metres.
The blaze, reportedly caused by an electrical surge resulting from negligence, quickly spread through the shopping complex before firefighters and local emergency responders brought it under control. Teams from Fire Eagle C12 LFS89LA, Enigbo, supplemented by water from FFL008 LFS69LA, Isolo, and FFL001 LFS62LA, Ijegun, were deployed to contain the fire. Police officers from Ikotun Division were also on the scene.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, January 1, 2026. Firefighters received the call at 00:22hrs and arrived at the scene by 00:32hrs, successfully putting out the fire.
The affected shopping complex is located at Ikotun Roundabout, Ikotun, within the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. The building housed shops of varying sizes on a land area of about 650 square metres.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with several shops, especially those selling electronics and household appliances, severely damaged. One resident said, “We heard a loud crackle and saw smoke rising from the shops. By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had already spread to almost all the stores.”
Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but the fire caused significant property loss. Authorities have warned that negligence and unsafe electrical practices in crowded commercial areas remain a serious hazard, urging traders to take preventive measures ahead of festive celebrations.
