By Adeyinka Adeniran
No fewer than 40 shops were completely razed, at the herb section of popular Oranyan market, Ibadan North East Local Government Area in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital city.
Though, no life was lost. The inferno destroyed multimillion naira property and herbs.
Shop owners were seen in different group, gnashing their teeth over the unfortunate incident when our reporter visited the market.
No body could say 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 sketchy as no single food vendor operates in the market.
The youth leader, Adebimpe, who said she had been in the market since 1979 lamented that, “We normally resume here around 7.00am and close by 7.00pm as well.
“Whenever they ring bell or you heard the sound of 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 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 into 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 kept money there is because of hunters that 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.”
Meanwhile, the General Manager, Oyo State state Fire Services, Yemi Akinyinka while confirming the incident said the Fire Services Headquarters received 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 were affected, while property worth billions of naira were saved, but no life was lost. Our personnel returned back to station at exactly 3:36hrs.”
