So, yesterday night, a massive broke out at the popular Alaba International Market in Lagos, destroying several shops and sending traders into panic.
hundreds of people were seen crying and mourning the loss of their goods, while others made frantic attempts to salvage what they could before the flames spread further.
Now, the question is who is setting these markets on fire? what exactly is going on? Why do these fires always seem to break out at night, when no one is around to respond quickly? Who benefits when the sweat and labour of thousands of honest traders are destroyed in a single night? Of course, we all know that Igbos are the ones dominating the market economy in Lagos and of recent there has been a surge in market fires across the States
Let it not be what I’m thinking sha cos if by any means some Yaribas are behind all of this, like, they are now trying to destroy Igbo businesses in Lagos then they have drawn the battle line.
Ask yourself again, why do these fires occur during the nights? It’s now a reoccurring pattern and if my hunch is right, then, it’s not going to be funny.
These are not questions to be brushed aside, especially because Ndigbo form the backbone of the trading community in Lagos. From Alaba to Ladipo, from Balogun to Aspanda, Igbo men and women have built thriving businesses through years of hard work, discipline, and determination. Their success is not by chance — it is the product of a culture that values enterprise, resilience, and unity.
Yet, each time fire strikes, it is these same people who suffer the most. Goods are lost, debts pile up, and dreams are shattered. And while the authorities promise investigations, nothing meaningful ever comes out of it.
Igbos in Lagos listen up! Don’t allow anyone to destroy your sources of livelihoods in Lagos. Lagos is part of Nigeria and you all have every right to live there and flourish.
This is why it is time for Ndigbo in Lagos to rise in wisdom and unity. Lagos is part of Nigeria, and every Nigerian — Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, or any other group — has a right to live, work, and prosper here. Those who say “leave Lagos for them” forget that Lagos was built by all Nigerians, including the Igbos whose energy, innovation, and investment helped make the city what it is today. Leaving is not the answer; protecting what we’ve built is.
Let every market in Lagos become more alert. Let traders come together and form organised market watches — lawful, cooperative groups that work with the police and fire service. Let there be night guards, CCTV cameras, and fire extinguishers in every section. Let market leaders call for regular safety inspections, and let traders learn simple fire prevention skills. We must be proactive, not reactive.
But beyond the physical protection, Ndigbo must also protect their unity. Envy and division weaken us. The enemy strikes more easily when we are scattered. It is time to speak with one voice and defend our collective interests peacefully and intelligently.
If, by any chance, these market fires are part of a bigger plan to weaken Igbo enterprise in Lagos, then those behind it should know that they cannot destroy a spirit that is built on hard work and perseverance. The Igbo man has survived war, discrimination, and injustice — yet he continues to rise.
Still, this is not the time for anger or violence. It is the time for strategic action, vigilance, and solidarity. The same energy that built these markets must now be used to protect them.
Our fathers built their legacies with bare hands. Our generation must not allow theirs — or ours — to go up in smoke.
Let every Igbo trader remember this: your shop is not just your source of income, it is your pride, your heritage, your story. Protect it. Guard it. Unite to defend it.
May the spirits of our ancestors who believed in honest labour continue to bless our hands. May our enemies stumble in their schemes, and may the flame that burns against us be turned into the light that leads us forward.
Ndigbo, kwechiri. Stand firm. Protect your markets. Protect your future.
