By Adeyinka Adeniran
Hundreds of shops were razed in a fire incident which occured at the plastic session of the popular Aleshinloye market, Ibadan Southwest local government Area, Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
Although authorities could not confirm the cause of the incident, which sources said started around 10PM Tuesday night, goods worth hundreds of millions of Naira were destroyed.
Most affected shop owners could not recover any item in the inferno as it spread from stall to stall.
The National Emergency Management Authourity (NEMA), Ibadan Operation Centre confirmed that close to one thousand shops were affected and about 500 owners fell victim.
When Corenews visited the market Wednesday morning, it was observed that some sections were still burning while smoke still oozes out from other parts.
A 15,000litre water tanker was seen at the middle of the market with some men and women still trying to put out some burning fire. the thick smoke notwithstanding, men and children were seen scooping water from the leaking water hoose to quench other parts of the burning shops while men were seen directing the hoose to major fire spots.
Victims who were betrayed by their somber looks were seen being encircled by sympathisers. While some sympathises, others were heard express shock and disbelief.
Many of the victims who spoke with The Nation attributed the extent of the damage to lack of preparedness and lack of firefighting equipment at the nearby fire station in the market.
The victims who were full of rage and anger towards the fire service men said it was unfortunate that what started as a mere fire in one shop could not be curtailed by the operatives before it escalated to other parts of the plastic session.
While some suspected foul play in the fire incidents, others saw it as act from divine. Those who suspected foul play said authorities had given March 27 as deadline for a quit notice served on the traders to evacuate the shops.
A middle aged woman identifies as Alhaja Balikis lamented that she loss ten shops and goods worth of millions of naira to the inferno.
Balikis who has resigned to fate said the inferno started from two of the shops directly facing the State Fire Station located inside the Alesinloye market.
She disclosed that at least three traders are receiving medical attention at the hospital on account of the incident.
She said “Efforts to curtail the spread of the fire to other outlets proved abortive. Men of the Fire services, aside, arriving the scene of the incident late, there was complaint of inadequate tools especially tanker trucks.
“Imagine, the Alesinloye outstation of the Fire services cannot boast of functional trucks. The enormity of the losses recorded would have been prevented, if the men of the Fire services are alive to their responsibility.
“As at present, no fewer than three affected traders are receiving medical attention at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. We live on Bank loans. With this incident, our indebtedness to various financial institutions is humongous. We are appealing to Governor Seyi Makinde to come to our aid.”
Another trader, who pleaded anonymity said the intervention of fire service from nearby Sumal and Sweetco companies helped to saved the day, as the state operatives called from Oyo town and Iseyin, who were miles away took time in coming.
A delegation from the state government led by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal who visited the scene to access the damages assured the victims of the inferno of its supports.
Describing the incident as unfortunate while addressing the traders, Lawal said the government has ordered an immediate preliminary investigation into the incidence which according to him would enable the state government take decisions in the best interest of those affected.
He added that the local government chairman, Hon. Kehinde Akande has been directed to provide immediate logistics support for the affected traders, while promising them that the state government through the state emergency management agency (OYSEMA) and NEMA, palliatives would be made available for them.
He implored representatives of the traders and their leadership to quickly present their reports, taking into stocks the shops and wares damaged by the inferno, for the state government to expedite measures of intervention.
He said: “On behalf of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, I have come here today to commiserate with you over the sad incident. We thank God that no life was lost.
“This is a big and popular market. It is so painful. Please, rest assured that the government will do the needful in terms of immediate support. It is our prayer that such will not happen again.
“This fire incident is sad, because this market has been in existence for quite some time and our men and women have been plying their trades peacefully here.
“As the government, we have come to empathise and to assess the level of damage that has been done as a result of the inferno.
“We have come and seen and we have also met with market men and women. The fire was aggravated because of the kind of trade (plastic business). So, you can expect that it would spread like a wildfire. Nevertheless, we thank God Almighty that no life was lost.
“As a government, we will do the needful in terms of immediate support through the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (Oyo SEMA). We will also work with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as well as public-spirited people to give immediate support to the victims of this incident.
“We will be waiting for a comprehensive report on the cause of the fire and the level of losses. This is a market that is central to commercial activities in Oyo State. People come all the way from Benin Republic, Ivory Coast and Niger Republic to trade here. So, the state government will do something.”
Addressing journalists after an assessment tour, the Assistant Head of Operation, NEMA, Ibadan Operation Centre, Olanrewaju Akinade,said the team was surprise to hear the report on the fire, attributing the remarks to anger and grief on the part of the victims.
He said “In estimation, from what we gathered, we found out that many people have more than one shops each. The registered is on individual basis. The total number of people is different from the total number of shops, so we gathered that over 1,000 shops are affected, though owned by about 400 to 500 individuals because somebody might have one shop and ten stalls and we have interviewed some of them.
“For now, we are still gathering the data, by the time we finish, we will know the total number. We are working closely with the market leaders in the Aleshinloye market.”
He assured the Federal government will come to the aid of the victims soon.
Also speaking on the incident, the Babaloja of Oyo state, Alhaji Yekeen Abass has assured the traders of the government”s support, saying governor Makinde is a listening governor who will support the victims.
