Akinola Market, a weekly marketplace in Ipetumodu, Osun State, was devastated by a fire that destroyed goods worth millions of naira.
The fire broke out late Friday, causing panic among traders who had already left for the day. Many rushed back to the market after receiving alarming calls about the blaze.
A trader, who preferred to remain anonymous for security reasons, noted that the cause of the fire remains undetermined, although it significantly affected the section where tubers of yam were stored.
“I was called late on Friday. I had left the market about four hours earlier. The part affected is the stalls where yam sellers usually keep their produce,” the trader explained. “Those who contacted us also informed NSCDC operatives, and they responded. But the destruction was massive.”
When reached for a comment, Kehinde Adeleke, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, suggested that the fire might have been caused by improperly managed refuse burning.
“Akinola Market in Ipetumodu was gutted by a late-night fire on January 10, 2025. The fire broke out in a section of the market where foodstuffs, particularly yams, were being sold. Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire started from refuse set ablaze by yet-to-be-identified individuals after the close of business on Friday,” Adeleke stated.
He added that traders had collected their refuse for burning but negligently left the fire unextinguished before heading home, leading to the inferno. The NSCDC promptly deployed operatives to the scene upon receiving a distress call.
