A devastating fire broke out at a spare parts market in the Idumota area of Lagos State, destroying property worth millions of naira.

The fire, which occurred late on Friday night, razed multiple buildings used for the sale of automobile spare parts.

According to Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Saturday, the agency received distress calls at 10:20 PM on Friday, prompting an immediate response from its Emergency Response Teams.

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By 10:55 PM, LASEMA’s teams arrived at the scene to find the buildings engulfed in flames.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that several structures were affected, though the exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated.

The inferno led to the destruction of goods and properties valued at hundreds of millions of naira, but fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported.

In a coordinated effort to contain the blaze, LASEMA’s Shark and Tiger Response Teams, along with the LASEMA Fire Unit, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Federal Fire Service, worked tirelessly to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.

Law enforcement agencies were also present, ensuring crowd control and public safety at the scene.

Oke-Osanyintolu assured that operations to fully extinguish the fire and salvage valuable items from the affected shops were ongoing.

“The process of dampening down and recovery is in progress to ensure the fire is completely put out,” he added.

While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, authorities are focused on ensuring that the situation does not escalate further.

Investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo has praised Nigerians for their role in securing his release from military detention, following his arrest and three-day detention by the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Soyombo, who was held in solitary confinement, attributed his freedom to widespread public outcry and media advocacy.

In a statement on Saturday, Soyombo said, “Nigerians are not worth fighting for? I hear that every now and then, and I’ve always disbelieved it. Yesterday, you proved me right.

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“You all are the reason my detention by @HQNigerianArmy lasted ‘only’ three days. I’m a free man today because of your social media engagements with #FreeFisayoNow and the publications/broadcasts by the traditional media. And I can prove it.”

Soyombo was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, November 27, and subjected to intense interrogation by military officers.

He was held incommunicado, with no clear timeline for his release.

“After my arrest at about 2 a.m. on Wednesday, I was grilled by different levels of the Army until deep into the night. I didn’t return to my cell until at least 11 p.m. on Wednesday. My case was then forwarded to a superior office that was to interrogate me on Thursday,” he said.

He described Thursday as uneventful, with no interrogation conducted, leaving him uncertain about the length of his detention.

However, on Friday morning, he was transferred to the Military Intelligence Brigade (MIB), where he learned his arrest had gained significant public attention.

“Without your pressure, I’d still be in that cell by now, away from civilisation and held incommunicado. So, yes, my freedom is your freedom. This victory exists because of you, you and you. Thank you,” Soyombo added.

The Nigerian Army claimed that Soyombo was arrested during a raid on an illegal oil bunkering site in Port Harcourt.

According to Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, Soyombo was detained alongside other suspects as part of the operation.

Soyombo, however, denied any involvement in illegal activities, asserting that his arrest was connected to his work as an investigative journalist.

His detention sparked condemnation from civil society organisations and international media watchdogs, who described the incident as an attack on press freedom.

The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), which Soyombo founded, confirmed his release on Friday evening but raised concerns about potential reprisals from security agencies.

Soyombo’s ordeal has drawn attention to the risks faced by journalists in Nigeria.

Despite the experience, he reaffirmed his commitment to holding power to account, saying, “My freedom is your freedom.”

The Nigerian Army has released investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo after three days of detention, following an intense media campaign calling for his release.

Soyombo, who is the founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was detained by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

In a post on social media on Friday, FIJ confirmed Soyombo’s release, stating, “We can confirm that our founder @fisayosoyombo has now been released by @HQNigerianArmy, following the intense media campaign you all mounted.”

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Earlier, the FIJ had reported that Soyombo had been held by the Nigerian Army for three days. The organization condemned the detention, emphasizing that “Journalism is not a crime,” as it sought to bring attention to the case.

The Nigerian Army, in a statement from Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of the 6 Division Army Public Relations, explained that Soyombo had been arrested at an illegal oil bunkering site.

Danjuma stated that Soyombo, along with other suspects, was being investigated for their alleged involvement in the illicit operation.

However, the FIJ disputed the Army’s claim of Soyombo’s involvement in illegal activities.

“FIJ acknowledges the Nigerian Army’s deliberate mischaracterisation to suggest an involvement in ‘illegal oil bunkering’. FIJ will also address this statement appropriately,” the organization stated in its Friday post.

The Foundation for Investigative Journalism also raised concerns about Soyombo’s safety following his release.

“Our immediate concern is regarding the safety of Fisayo Soyombo in view of extensive information sharing with the Army on his fieldwork during the period of his detention. We are assessing the situation and hoping that his safety will not be jeopardised after release,” FIJ added.