A catastrophic fire at the Aleshinloye market in Ibadan, Oyo State, has devastated over 70 shops, leaving traders grappling with substantial losses. The blaze broke out around 10:15 PM on Tuesday in the Ibadan South West Local Government Area, and many traders are still trying to evaluate the extent of the damage as they face the aftermath.
One affected trader, Balikis, expressed her sorrow, saying she lost “more than ten shops and merchandise worth several millions of naira to the fire.” The fire reportedly originated in two shops before rapidly spreading to others. Balikis lamented, “Attempts to stop the spread of the fire were unsuccessful. The Fire Service arrived late and cited a lack of adequate equipment, particularly tanker trucks. The damage could have been reduced if they had responded more swiftly.”
Another victim recalled discovering the blaze through a local radio station and hurried to the scene. Despite the fire brigades’ efforts, the flames caused significant destruction to the market.
In light of the disaster, Oyo State’s Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, visited the market to evaluate the damage and characterized the incident as “unfortunate.” He announced an immediate preliminary investigation and ordered logistical support for the affected traders. Lawal assured that the government would provide aid to the victims through the State Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency.
The Babaloja of the state, Yekeen Abass, also reassured the traders of the government’s commitment to assist them, emphasizing that Governor Seyi Makinde is responsive to their needs and will provide a favorable response.
As traders begin to assess their losses, they are urgently seeking support, highlighting that many are burdened by loans and are now facing significant financial difficulties due to the destruction caused by the fire. The community is coming together to advocate for immediate assistance from the government to help the victims rebuild their livelihoods.
