NEWS: NIGERIA - Fire destroys 52 shops in Ibadan, Ado-Ekiti markets

Properties and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in an inferno which ravaged over 40 shops at the Sanyo community market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday.

It was learnt that firemen from the State Fire Service put out the fire, which began at 1am yesterday, at 3am.
The traders, who spoke with The Nation, said the fire started at midnight when power was restored by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.

The fire destroyed over 40 shops, which constitute about 98 per cent of the market.

The affected traders called on well- meaning individuals and the government to come and assist them.

They lauded the State Fire Service for coming to their rescue.

An affected trader, Ade Olaoye, who sells provisions and liquor, said only two shops were not affected; he put his loss at close to N1 million.

He revealed that the fire started as a result of power surge, which affected a refrigerator inside one of the affected shops.

Another victim, Mrs Kehinde Olatunji, who sells liquor and frozen foods, said items such as frozen foods, gold chains, wrist watches, drinks and food items were destroyed. She appealed to the government to come to their aid.

Another trader, who simply gave his name as Elder John, said this would be the second time he would be a victim as he put his loss at N650,000.

“Two years ago, there was a similar fire and I suffered a loss. I just stocked my shop and see me now,” he lamented.

It was a sad tale for many of the traders who got to know of the incident late as hoodlums already vandalised and stolen their goods before they got to the market.

Also in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, not less than 12 shops were razed in a shopping complex with goods valued at millions of Naira gone.

A shopping complex located near the popular Ile Abiye Hospital on Ilawe Road was gutted by fire at 1.20 pm with much damage done before firemen got to the scene.

Agrochemicals, textile, cooking utensils, animal feeds, saloon, stationery store, computer centre, among others.

Besides the firefighters, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the police were on ground to carry out rescue operation.

One of the victims, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Genge, claimed that some unidentified individuals were burning bush inside Ile Abiye, which spread into the complex.

Mrs. Genge said: “Some people were burning bush and refuse inside Ile Abiye and it spread to the complex here. I don’t know where to start again but I want the government to assist us.”

Another victim, Chukwuemeka Damike, said: “I went to town to buy something and some people called me shouting Fire! Fire!! I ran back only to discover that my shop has been burnt.

“The shop is finished, I have nothing else, even one Naira is not in my pocket again.”

Oluwabanke Ojo, an expectant mother, lamented the huge loss incurred in the blaze. According to her, she is a graduate who took to trading after looking for jobs without success for six years.

Ekiti NEMA Head of Operations, Saheed Akiode, said the agency contacted the Fire Service after receiving a distress call.

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