The popular Agbeni Market in the Ibadan North West Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Sunday morning, went up in flames.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the fire started around 4.30am.
It was further learnt that goods worth millions of naira were lost to the fire.
The General Manager of the State Fire Service, Yemi Akinyemi, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone.
Akinyemi said, “The agency received the distress call at exactly 4.37am through Sunday Ogundele, Access Bank security that Agbeni market is on fire. Personnel of the agency were quickly deployed to the place.
“Prompt action was taken and the fire was completely extinguished. Five out of multiple rows of shops were severely damaged by the fire. No life was lost, property was lost and the agency successfully saved property worth billions of naira and prevented the whole market from being destroyed by fire.”
Meanwhile, one of the affected shop owners, Funmilayo Faruoq, said she received a distress call that the market was on fire around 3.45am.
She said, “Frantic efforts were made to arrest the situation but to no avail. One of the trucks of the fire service that was drafted to the place developed a mechanical fault and could not function as expected. Others were later drafted to the scene.
“Our losses run into millions of naira. We deal in chemicals that are being used for farming and soap making.”
Another trader, Taiwo Emmanuel, said he received a distress call while in Kisi that his business outlet was on fire, adding, “I hurriedly mobilised people who were on the ground but to no avail, as all the goods running into millions of naira have turned to ashes.”
