Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
A fire outbreak at the popular Oranya Market in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State has destroyed several shops and left traders counting their losses.
The blaze reportedly started around midnight on Monday and spread through the market, affecting traders dealing in gold, furniture, second-hand clothing and other goods.
A trader identified as Iya Alia said nearly 300 shops were affected by the fire.
“The fire started around midnight. I cannot be specific about that time. And those affected were gold sellers, furniture sellers, second-hand clothes sellers and many others. The shops affected were almost 300.”
Another eyewitness described the destruction as devastating, saying, “This is devastating. This is huge. I don’t even know how to explain it. Close to 300 shops were destroyed.”
The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reforms and State Chairman of Fire Services, Morof Akinwande, confirmed the incident but said the exact number of affected shops had not been established.
He said the fire reportedly started in the middle of the market following an explosion, although it was yet to be determined whether gas or another source was responsible.
“Yes, it occurred. That number we cannot ascertain, but what is known is that some shops were destroyed and the fire incident started in the middle of the market with an explosion.
“Whether it’s a gas explosion or other things. And when you have a gas explosion, it would spread, but as I am talking to you, the situation has been under control since 1 am.
“On the number of shops and inventory, that is too early because that’s post-fire outbreak investigation. So, I cannot be accurate about the number of shops that were destroyed. But shops were actually gone.”
The latest incident comes about two years after a fire destroyed more than 200 shops in the herbal section of the same market.
It also follows another market fire in Ibadan on Saturday, August 22, when nine locked-up shops at the Nigerian Railway shopping complex near Aleshinloye Market were razed.
The earlier fire reportedly destroyed goods and equipment worth millions of naira. One affected trader, Busari Olayemi, said products valued at about N21 million were lost, including window blinds, curtain fabrics, industrial sewing machines and other equipment.
