Importer Of Jankara Market Firecrackers Arrested By Police

LAGOS STATE PPRO: DSP NGOZI BRAIDE
LAGOS STATE PPRO: DSP NGOZI BRAIDE

Barely one week after the inferno that consumed parts of the famous Jankara market, at the Isale-Eko area of Lagos State, the Lagos State Police Command yesterday said it has arrested the owner and importer of the firecrackers which caused the fire.

The owner of the storage facility which housed the exploded firecrackers, Mr. Semilore Olalekan, was said to have been arrested as part of ongoing investigations into the fire. However, his arrest is generating ripples in police circles as the suspect allegedly received permission from the appropriate quarters, the Police Anti-Bomb Unit and the office of the National Security Adviser before importation of the fireworks.

The fire disaster which happened on boxing day, killed one person, left several others with varying degrees of injuries and razed over 20 buildings and cars.

The spokesman of the Lagos state anti bomb unit, Gbolahan Moronfolu, explained that firecrackers can be imported when certified by the Inspector General of Police.

Confirming the arrest, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said: “The owner of the firecrackers has indeed been arrested and investigations are ongoing but it is too early to say on what grounds he would be charged to court.”