Fire guts 1000 shops in Ibadan market

Goods and several property worth millions of naira were lost to an
inferno that gutted more than 1000 shops in the Fancy Section of the
Aleshinloye Internattional Market in Ibadan late on Friday.

Punch correspondent who visited the market on Saturday observed that
the fire had not been completely put out despite fire fighters efforts
overnight to put it out. Some of the traders who spoke with our
correspondent blamed high voltage and poor fire fighting-facility at
the market for the disaster.

The Chairman of the traders' association, Mr. Rahman Olabamiji said
the fire began late on Friday after the close of activities. He said
traders rushed back to the market from their various homes when they
learnt of the fire but it was too late as the fire raged throughout
the night. He blamed the fire on the high voltage electricity supplied
to the market late on Friday.

"The power voltage supplied by Electricity Distribution Company for
this area was too high and it was the major cause of the fire. It
began after 8pm on Friday night after we had all left the market. By
the time we were called, it had spread to several other parts of the
market. Our section was badly affected as no shop was spared by the
fire," he said.

"We have a fire station in the market but when the rescue vehicle
arrived, there was little water in its tank. We called for
reimbursement from other sources but it was too late. It was
eventually put out but what was achieved was just to prevent other
sections of the market from being consumed. No life was lost in the
fire but the fire burnt everything we had in the shops. We all lost
everything we had and starting all over will be difficult considering
the fact that we trade with loans from banks," Olabamiji said, adding
that hoodlums used the adavantage to steal most of the salvaged items
until the police came to send them away.

Deputy Managing Director, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company,
John Darlignton, said it would be wrong to put the blame on the
company, adding that the company's position on the allegation would be
made known after conducting an investigation.

The Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi visited the market around 1 am
on Saturday and witnessed the fire and efforts made to put it out. He
promised to assist the traders.

PUNCH.