Earlyface

Many people were injured and
cars destroyed when a multi-
storey building packed with
fire crackers and other types of
goods went up in flames on
Wednesday morning on Lagos
Island.
Witnesses said the explosion
went off around 9.30a.m as the
city marked Boxing Day amid a
lull in business activities.
The building is said to be located
on Oko Awo Street in the
popular Jankara area of Lagos,
close to King Ado Secondary
School.
Fire fighters and rescue
agencies swiftly deployed on the
scene and battled the huge
blaze.
Within minutes of the explosion,
the fire spread to a nearby
building, sending hundreds of
residents, traders and shoppers
fleeing in the usually boisterous
market area.
There were initial speculation
around the country that a bomb
had exploded in Lagos while a
report said a plane crashed in
the city.
The casualty figure is yet
unknown although many
injured persons have been
rushed to the hospital with
serious burns.
Fire crackers are banned in
Nigeria although it is a common
fare during Christmas and New
Year celebrations in the country.
More details as the story
develops.