Fire destroys 100 spare parts stores in Ibadan


Goods worth over N500 million were destroyed in a fire incident that ravaged parts of the popular motor parts section of Araromi-Agodi Gate market in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, at the weekend. Men of the State Fire Service, however, successfully contained the inferno, which began according to eye witness accounts on Friday night at about 9:30pm. Many of the traders, it was learnt, could not salvage their goods due to the iron nature of the goods in most of the shops. Hundreds of the affected traders were seen wailing over the huge loss, while calling on well meaning individuals and government at all levels to come to their aid.

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It was further learnt that fire fighters could not achieve much due to inadequate water to contain the fire coupled with their inability to gain entrance into the market early enough.

Also, scores of affected traders were seen compiling their names and items lost to the inferno in order to seek government’s assistance.

While conducting the Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan North East Local Government, Mr. Ladi Oluokun, around the burnt market, Chairman of Ibadan Motor Parts Dealers Union, Chief Gbolagade Orodele, said he was intimated on the incidence by security men stationed at the market at 10:30 pm, adding that men of the fire service, as well as some traders, battled for hours to put out the fire in order to save the rest of the market.

“This unfortunate incident has consumed goods worth millions of naira; we want the government to come to our aid and assist us, because this is an irreparable loss for the traders, most of who borrowed money from micro finance banks to buy their goods,” he lamented.

In his comment, Oluokun commiserated with the traders while expressing gratitude to God that no life was lost into it.

He assured the traders that the state and local government would come to their aid within the shortest possible time, but however admonished them to ensure that they insure their goods to mitigate future losses of such nature.