A powerful fire early Thursday, January 1, 2026, razed a large section of Ikotun Market in Lagos, leaving traders counting losses estimated in the millions of naira.
The blaze reportedly began around 12:05 a.m., just minutes into the New Year, and rapidly spread across the market, consuming shops and merchandise before firefighters were able to contain it.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as heartbreaking, with one resident saying the market was “burnt to ashes,” and many traders losing their livelihoods within hours.
