Over 70 shops were ravaged by fire at the popular Aleshinloye market in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The incident, which happened around 10:15pm, on Tuesday, in the Ibadan South West Local Government Area of the state, has left the entire traders at the market devastated as they continue counting losses as of Wednesday.
One of the affected traders, simply identified as Balikis, lamented that she lost “over ten shops and goods worth several millions of naira to the inferno.”
Speaking with The PUNCH in Ibadan, the state capital on Wednesday, Balikis said, “The inferno which later spread to over 70 shops started from two shops.
“Efforts to curtail the spread of the fire to other outlets proved abortive. Men of the Fire service, aside, from arriving at the scene of the incident late, complained of inadequate tools, especially tanker trucks.
“Imagine, the Alesinloye outstation of the Fire service can not boast of functional trucks. The enormity of the losses recorded would have been prevented, if the men of the Fire service were alive to their responsibilities.
“We live on Bank loans. With this incident, our indebtedness to various financial institutions is humongous. We are appealing to Governor Seyi Makinde’s led administration in the state to come to our aid.”
Another victim said, “I heard about the unfortunate incident through one of our radio stations in Ibadan around 11pm on Tuesday that our market was on fire. I quickly rushed out with my husband to the place to ascertain the magnitude of the fire. I was amazed as the fire continued to wag heavily. The fire brigades really tried but at the end of the day, it ravaged almost 70 shops.”
Meanwhile, the state government has assured the victims of the inferno of its support.
The state Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, during an on-the-spot assessment of the affected sections of the market on Wednesday, described the incident as unfortunate.
Lawal ordered an immediate preliminary investigation into the incident to enable the government to make decisions in the best interest of the victims.
He also directed the Local Government Chairman, Kehinde Akande, to provide immediate logistics support for the affected traders while promising that the government would provide palliatives to the victims through the State Emergency Management Agency and National Emergency Management Agency.
Lawal also implored representatives of the traders and their leadership to quickly present their reports, taking into stock the shops and wares damaged by the inferno, for the government to expedite measures of intervention.
Also speaking, the Babaloja of the state, Yekeen Abass assured “the traders of the government’s support.
“Makinde is a listening governor. I will take the issue to him. I am assuring you that you will get a favourable response.” Abbss assured.
