Fire guts over 40 shops in Ibadan

Over 40 shops have been completely razed to the ground, at a popular market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Though no life was lost, the incident which happened at the popular Oranyan market, herbal section, in the Ibadan North East Local Government Area of the state, on Saturday, destroyed multimillion naira property and herbs.

Nobody could speak on what led to the inferno.

Some of the victims, Fatimoh Adebimpe (the market youth leader); Kafaya Lucky and Kehinde Moronfade lamented that the cause of the fire incident was still unknown as no single food vendor was in the market.

The youth leader, Adebimpe, who said she had been in the market since 1979 lamented, “We normally resume here around 7.00 am and close by 7.00 pm as well. Whenever they ring the bell or you hear the sound of the bell in the evening, you must take your leave. So, some of us were already at our different homes when those leaving close to the market started calling us around 10.0pm that the market was on fire.

“What could have caused this? We are not connected to the national grid, because it’s a taboo. We are not using electricity. Nobody is selling food here. So, we are still in total confusion.

“I cannot say this is what I lost in that fire. I just bought some things like full tiger skin; and many other things that I may not want in the paper.

“Though, the local government officials who control this area were here this morning (Monday), and they promised to do something. We are hopeful.”

Another victim, Lucky, said, “I have a lot of money in the shop. The reason why we always keep money there is because of hunters who normally bring different animals for us.

“If you are unable to pay immediately, they may take it to another person. Forget whether he is your customer. So, you must always have money with you. That’s why we are keeping money in the shops.”

Moronfade said, “I just got a loan on Friday, and this disaster happened the next day. It’s so pathetic. No traces of burning or cooking in the market. Honestly, I’m devastated.”

Confirming the incident to our correspondent in Ibadan, the General Manager of the state Fire Services, Yemi Akinyinka, said the Fire Services Headquarters received a fire emergency call at exactly 23:25hrs on the incident.

He said, “The incident affected 20 prefabricated shops out of multiple adjourning rows of shops.

“The property worth millions of naira was affected, while property worth billions of naira was saved, but no life was lost. Our personnel returned back to the station at exactly 3:36hrs.”