A late-night fire on Saturday destroyed 10 shops and goods worth millions of naira at the popular Oba Lipede Market in Kuto, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The fire, which started around 10:15 PM, was reportedly caused by the explosion of a gas-powered generator owned by a businessman in the market. The Director of Ogun State Fire Service, Engr Fatai Adefala, confirmed the incident on Sunday, stating that his team responded promptly after being contacted.
“There was a fire incident at the market on Saturday night. We were contacted at about 22:15 and quickly raced down to bring the situation under control. Ten shops were affected, and the fire damaged goods inside these shops. The incident was due to the explosion of a generator being used in the area, which was powered by gas,” Adefala explained. He added that a power surge likely caused the fire and emphasized that no lives were lost, although one person sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Among the items destroyed were foodstuffs like rice and beans, as well as household utensils and other valuables. A couple, Basiru and Tolani Moses, who lost two shops in the fire, reported that ₦500,000 cash intended for a bank deposit on Monday and goods worth over ₦1.5 million were consumed by the flames.
On Sunday morning, several officials, including the Commissioner for Special Duties, Funmi Efuwape, the Director of the State Emergency Management Agency, Wale Sonde, and the Chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government, Omolaja Majekodunmi, visited the scene to assess the damage. Efuwape pointed out that illegal shanties erected outside the main market building exacerbated the fire’s spread and impeded the fire department’s access.
Efuwape stated, “The fire outbreak was due to these shanties outside the main market building. Now that the traders have seen it for themselves, I am sure they will agree when the government says these shanties must go. About 10 shops outside and five inside were affected. The five inside would not have been affected if the ones outside were not there.”
She hinted at potential demolitions to prevent future incidents and mentioned that the main market building would undergo an integrity test to ensure safety, with the government planning to renovate the market.
The Director of SEMA, Wale Sonde, mentioned that NEMA officials would visit the market on Monday to assess the damages and decide on assistance for the victims. He noted the significant “physical, economic, and psychological damages” caused by the fire.
The market leader, Mrs. Tejumade Bakre, lamented that looting occurred shortly after the fire started, but security agents later intervened to chase away the miscreants.
However, people have taken to social media to lament about the incident.
A user Ojoye Bunmi, “Lord please have mercy on Ogun State and Nigeria in general. Waking up every day hearing bad news is enough. Where is the good news?”
“What’s happening now? Maybe I will just stay off social media. Tired of seeing bad news every day. God please come to our aid and show us mercy.” Commented Rosemary Dignitary.
Ogechukwu Otubelu added, “All these tragedies that befall people, how do they get back to their feet? Do they get help from the government, relatives, NGOs, religious organizations? We the Netizens either empathize or criticize even the victims. Let’s remember that we are first, humans before any other thing that differentiates us. May God replace in hundred folds whatever they have lost.”
Elder Isaac Aina said, “Now I can see that the hand of God is in Nigeria, and the hand is so mighty. Daddy please, whatever our sin is as a nation or as individuals, please have mercy on us.”
Oba Femi, “The state of the economy is dire, but daily tragedies and evil deeds only make matters worse. As a result, the number of kidnappings, robberies, and drug deals on Yahoo! is rising, among other heinous deeds. May the Lord assist us.”
FA Kakum Lemoro: “Always bad news in Nigeria. It’s either a building collapsed, fire outbreak, fuel trucks catching fire, boat capsizing, banditry, kidnapping, Islamist terrorism, Boko Haram, or flooding. This country has too many evils, and corruption contributes to all this sadness. The blood of the innocent is crying for justice.”
