No fewer than 14 shops were destroyed by fire at Ogundipe Market, Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Wednesday.
Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reform and Chairman of the State Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, who confirmed the incident, said the fire emergency was received through telephoning at 3:50am on Wednesday, reporting that the shops were on fire at the market.
Akinwande said fire personnel led by CFS Olayiwola T.K. promptly mobilised and responded to the distressed call who on arrival, met 14 out of 42 shops alight.
He explained that the personnel swiftly swung into action to curtail the fire while also restricting it from spreading to other nearby shops.
“No casualty was recorded. The operation was carried out successfully and properties worth billions of naira were saved by the officers of the fire service,” he said.
Akinwande added that post-fire incident investigation was in progress to ascertain the cause of the incident.
He urged the traders across the state to be conscious of fire and emphasised the importance of having extinguishers in their respective shops to tackle such fire incident at initial stage.
In another incident, a four-bedroom flat was destroyed at No 17, Ifesowapo Maternity, Zone 2, Ajoda in Egbeda area of Ibadan on Wednesday.
Akinwande, who confirmed the incident, said distressed call was received at exactly 12:42am on Wednesday through a telephone call.
He said immediately the address was received, firemen led by ACFS Adisa wasiu promptly mobilised and deployed to the scene of the incident.
“On getting there, it was a private residential building of four bedrooms flat and adjoining two bathrooms flat engulfed by fire. Our officers swiftly swung into action, and the fire was restricted from spreading to nearby buildings and properties.
“No casualty was recorded and properties worth millions of naira was loss,” the chairman said.
He attributed the fire incident to electricity surge ignited from a plugged electrical gadget that was left unattended.
He urged the public to always switch off and unplugged all electrical appliances while not in use, particularly after the close of work in their various workplaces and when going to bed to avoid fire outbreak.
Akinwande also charged residents to report fire incidents and give correct address while contacting the agency’s emergency lines: 08067439223 and 08054353501 or 615.
