By Adeyinka Adeniran
A business woman, Mrs Rabiatu Kingsley on Saturday narrated how she lost goods worth over N11mulluon naira to a fire incident that consumed three of her shops at Police Barracks Shops, Omolewa, Yemetu, Ibadan
Rabiatu who look lost was held thighly by her children who were cuddling her and looking for where help may come from when Saturday Nation visited the scene of the fire incident.
Apparently given up on hope, she recounted how fire incident also ravaged her personal resident around the Yemetu Police station and how she had to be squatting in a self contain apartment since the incident late last year.
For her, it was a tale of double tragedy in quick succession.
Rabiatu is a wife of a Police officer and runs three shops out of the about 15 shops that were destroyed by a midnight inferno.
When the Nation visited the scene, it was observed that the free had been put out completely by the combined effort of the state fire service men and residents who lived in the area.
She lamented that, goods worth several millions were destroyed in the inferno, making particular mention of a tailor who just procured an expensive machine worth over N7milion recently.
The tailor, it was gathered had slept at the job, working all night to deliver on some jobs but could not safe anything when the fire engulfed the who as it was sheer benevolence that saved him from been consumed by the fire.
Sources said the tailor who was locked inside the shop was unaware of the burning fire, as many residents too were unaware that he was sleeping inside the shop until noise from rescue operation alerted him to reality and was almost suffocated in the shop but for rescue operations of neighbours who quickly dragged him out.
Sources said the inferno was caused by electrical spark from a nearby electrical pole.
But, authourities said the fire incident was as a result of overheating of plugged deep freezer overnight unattended which caught fire and set the place ablaze.
While the shop owners were unable to safe anything from the incident, by Saturday afternoon, the scene had become a harvest fields for scavengers and scrap dealers.
They were sighted at the scene trying to source items of economic benefit to them.
Speaking with Sunday Corenews, Rashidat said the best she got from her association, Police Officers Wife Association (POWA) when her house got burnt was only a matteress and she said she is only looking up to God and not any human for help.
She said, “My building had a fire last year. I have lost more than N11 million.
“I sell new shoes, school bags, handbags, shreds, needles. A lot of things. Ladies’ shoes. Ladies’ shoes. My shop is full of stuff. This shop is full of stuffs. Provision, salts, minerals. Then you see, fish, stock fish, curry and ingredients.
“That one (pointing at another shop), there are two deep freezers and this long freezer. All the three shops are full of different goods and items that I sell.”
When asked what is the next plan of action, she said “There is no means. I am praying to God to help me now. When I lost my house last year, it was worth over N20million.
“There was no help now. Inside the barracks I didn’t see any help. So if God wants to help me with this, He can do it now. I don’t have any problem. I am just hoping on God. I don’t have any other thing than God.
“My house got burnt on the 21st of February last year, it was by the Police barracks. I am a police wife living inside the barracks now. I didn’t see any help from anybody. There was no help.
“My association gave me only one mattress and N20,000 Naira. You know, we are just helping the organization to grow. So, according to them, they were hoping that maybe the government would do something. But we didn’t see any help from anywhere, till today.
“This baby was inside. Look at my neighbours now. This baby that went and saved this one. We do not even remember he was i side the house. I didn’t even have the memory of having this baby inside. We lost everything. All property. Now I am managing in a Self-contain apartment. And now fire burn my shops again, it’s just painful. But we thank God. All I understand is God knows everything.
“Only God will appeal for us now. Even when the local government came, we told them. We explained what happened. They answered us. Just like what you are asking, we said. So, if God says He wants to use them for us, fine.
“Anyway, my life is in God’s hands now. Nothing we can do. I don’t know. If God says He wants to help us, He can help us.”
When contacted, the State Fire Service said the incidents was reported at about 2:09AM Saturday, 10th May, 2025 and swift deployment of officers helped salvaged the situation from escalating.
In a message, the General Manager, Yemi Akinyinka while confirming that no life was lost said only six shops were affected by fire out of 24 locked up shops.
He said, “The unfortunate incident was reported at exactly 02:09am of Saturday 10th, 2025 through GSM and Mr S.O. Soyombo to shops on fire at the above address.
“The fire personnel led by ACFS Adedeji (Mrs) promptly deployed to the scene and on getting there, it was discovered to be locked up shops on fire and we quickly swung into action and we were able to curtailed the fire in time.
“The fire was restricted from gaining momentum to other nearby shops.
“No casualty recorded, only six shops were affected by fire out of twenty-four (24) locked up shops.
“The fire incident was as a result of overheating of plugged deep freezer overnight unattended caught fire and set the place ablaze.
“The Officer in Charge advised the occupants and onlookers at the scene of incident that they should handle any source of ignition with care and any electrical appliance not in use should be switched off and unplugged for safety. Operatives returned to the Station by 04:59hrs and on standby.”
