Disaster struck on Christmas Day in
Ibadan, Oyo State capital, as more than 200 shops were burnt in a major
plank market at Alaro area of Sango.
Ibadan, Oyo State capital, as more than 200 shops were burnt in a major
plank market at Alaro area of Sango.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire started at around 3.00pm.
However, a Punch newspaper correspondent who visited
the scene of the incident at 7.30pm, observed as men of the state fire
service tried to put out the fire, which was still raging.
the scene of the incident at 7.30pm, observed as men of the state fire
service tried to put out the fire, which was still raging.
Some of them expressed fear that if they failed to put out the fire, it could extend to other shops overnight.
It was learnt that the fire was fuelled
by the stockpile of planks and heaps of sawdust in the market.
by the stockpile of planks and heaps of sawdust in the market.
Some of the marketers estimated the loss to the fire incident to be over N250m.
Punch newspaper learnt that one fire
service truck was deployed to the market and observed as some of the
traders, who feared that the fire could extend to other areas overnight,
bought water to support the efforts of the fire service.
service truck was deployed to the market and observed as some of the
traders, who feared that the fire could extend to other areas overnight,
bought water to support the efforts of the fire service.
One of the traders, who gave his name as
Adegoke, expressed anger at the fire service and described their
efforts as “lame and inadequate”.
Adegoke, expressed anger at the fire service and described their
efforts as “lame and inadequate”.
He said he left his shop around 2.30pm
after attending to a customer who urgently needed some goods. He added
that he was surprised when he received a call 30 minutes later that the
market was on fire.
after attending to a customer who urgently needed some goods. He added
that he was surprised when he received a call 30 minutes later that the
market was on fire.
He said, “Since today (Friday) is
Christmas, I decided to observe it at home like many of our members. But
a customer called me on my mobile telephone while I was at home.
Christmas, I decided to observe it at home like many of our members. But
a customer called me on my mobile telephone while I was at home.
“He said he urgently needed to buy some
planks, so I went to the shop. After the transaction, I closed the shop
and went back home. I was still on the way when I got a call that some
shops in the market had caught fire.”
planks, so I went to the shop. After the transaction, I closed the shop
and went back home. I was still on the way when I got a call that some
shops in the market had caught fire.”
He said he lost goods worth N3.5m.
“I am a medium-sized trader, but there
are traders here with planks and equipment worth more than N5m in their
shops,” he said. Apart from the planks, several sawing machines and
other logging equipment were lost in the fire.
are traders here with planks and equipment worth more than N5m in their
shops,” he said. Apart from the planks, several sawing machines and
other logging equipment were lost in the fire.
Reacting to the incident, a trader,
Afolabi, said instead of bringing more fire service trucks to the scene,
only one was sent, which had to leave the scene three times to get more
water.
Afolabi, said instead of bringing more fire service trucks to the scene,
only one was sent, which had to leave the scene three times to get more
water.
He said, “Each time the vehicle left to
refill water, we lost more shops because the fire would gain more
ground. Don’t forget that this is the time of the year when there are
more fire incidents. More fire service vehicles are needed to forestall
possible overnight fire here. As you can see, we now pay to bring water
tanker to help the fire service men.”
refill water, we lost more shops because the fire would gain more
ground. Don’t forget that this is the time of the year when there are
more fire incidents. More fire service vehicles are needed to forestall
possible overnight fire here. As you can see, we now pay to bring water
tanker to help the fire service men.”
Meanwhile, no fewer than 79 people died
in 1,638 different fire incidents in Lagos State between January and
November, 2015, the state Fire Service has said.
in 1,638 different fire incidents in Lagos State between January and
November, 2015, the state Fire Service has said.
According to a statement by the
spokesman for the service, Mr. Amodu Shakiru, on Friday in Lagos, the
service also rescued 99 victims in the incidents recorded within that
period.
spokesman for the service, Mr. Amodu Shakiru, on Friday in Lagos, the
service also rescued 99 victims in the incidents recorded within that
period.
It stated that property estimated at N16.38bn were lost in the incidents.
According to the statement, properties estimated at N98.28 bn were saved during the fire operations in the period under review.