Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Some shops gutted by fire at Kuto Market, Abeokuta, Ogun State
Photo: Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Properties estimated to be worth over one billion naira was destroyed by fire at the popular Kuto market in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.
The fire outbreak burnt about 20 shops to ashes early this morning with items like rice, plastics, provisions, ingredients, garri, yam flour among items lost.
When our correspondent visited the market this morning, traders and sympathisers were seen wailing and yelling over the unfortunate incident.
The cause of the fire is unknown as at the time of filing this report, but findings revealed that the cause of the fire may not be unconnected to the weather condition, although some suggested that it could have been caused by a power surge.
Some of the traders whose shops were burnt include; Ireti Yusuf, Ronke Ojo, Wasilat Adeosun, Folake Agbaje, Femi Idowu among others.
Speaking with our correspondent, a trader in the market, who simply identified himself as Sola narrated what he knows about the incident.
According to him, “I received a call around 10:58pm that the market is on fire and our shops were affected.
“I left my house at Ilogbo immediately with only my singlet and boxer but when I got to the market my shop was gone. I became helpless as I could not save the situation.
Shops gutted by fire at Kuto Market, Abeokuta, Ogun State
Photo: Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
“Many people were on ground to assist us, it was a sad experience. The shops belonged to Mama Azeez, a.k.a. Omojoyibo. We delivered about 400bags of rice in the shop on Sunday and yesterday again, another 150 bags were delivered in the shop.
“Now, we have lost all the 550 bags of rice. The shops beside us also stocked up for the Xmas festival. Like the plastic seller, she loaded two shops and another woman beside her who is selling pots, stoves and other house utensils had a full stock of market in her shops.
“As I’m speaking with you, three of the shop owners have been taken to various hospitals over the shock, we don’t know their condition now.
“Three trucks of water was deployed by the fire service, but they could not stop the fire as it wrecked a lot of havoc,” he explained.
The caretaker chairman of Abeokuta South local government, Comrade Olusola Ekundayo, who was in the market for on the spot assessment told PM News that investigation will be conducted to ascertain the remote cause of the incident, adding that, the local council will look at assistance that can be rendered to the traders.
“We are here today to assess the situation. I can’t say anything about the cause for now, we will investigate the matter and then know the next line of action,” Ekundayo said.
Also speaking with our correspondent, the Iyaloja of Kuto market, Chief Isiwatu Adewuyi expressed shock over the incident and called on the government to assist the victims.
The DPO Ibara Police Command, Moses Aduroja led his men to the market to see things for himself.
The police took record of damaged items, with pictures of the incident while names of the affected traders were also taken.
They asked the affected traders to report at the station for further interrogation on the matter.
As at the time of filling this report, people from every part of Abeokuta were still trooping to the market to see the extent of damage caused by the inferno.
Meanwhile, another market in the town, Iberekodo market in the Abeokuta North local government area of the state was also gutted by fire with items worth over five hundred thousand naira lost.
source=PmNewsNigeria
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