Nigeria, Sept. 17 -- A massive fire on Tuesday evening engulfed a commercial plaza at Tinubu Square in the CMS area of Lagos Island, sending traders and passersby into panic.

A PREMIUM TIMES reporter saw thick black smoke billowing from the building as flames spread rapidly across sections of the structure.

Eyewitnesses told PREMIUM TIMES that the fire broke out suddenly, forcing shop owners and occupants to scamper for safety, while valuables worth millions of naira were trapped inside the complex.

The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained at the time of filing this report.

This newspaper observed the arrival of a Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service vehicle at 8:33 p.m., by which time the building was already overtaken by flame...