A fire outbreak on Wednesday morning razed parts of Owode Market in Offa, Kwara State, destroying no fewer than 10 stalls in the goats and sheep sellers’ section of the popular market.
The fire, which reportedly started between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., threw traders and nearby residents into panic as efforts were made to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to other sections of the market.
Eyewitnesses said the inferno broke out in the early hours of the morning, prompting an emergency response from traders and residents who mobilised to salvage goods and limit damage. As of press time, the cause of the fire could not be ascertained.
Although no casualty was recorded, affected traders were said to have suffered heavy losses, with goods and properties worth millions of naira destroyed in the blaze.
Leaders of the Owode Market, while commiserating with victims of the incident, appealed to the Kwara State Government under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to come to the aid of the affected traders. They also called on the Offa Local Government Council, chaired by Hon. Sulaiman Olatunji Laaro Omituntun, to provide urgent assistance to help victims recover from the losses.
At the scene of the incident, the Iyaloja General of Offaland, Alhaja Chief (Mrs) Idiat Ige Ishola Yusuf, expressed deep sympathy with the affected traders, describing the incident as painful and unfortunate. She urged them to remain hopeful, assuring that efforts would be made to draw the attention of relevant authorities and well-meaning individuals to their plight.
Similarly, the Babaloja General of Offa, Alhaji Chief Mashood Bello, who also visited the scene, commiserated with the victims and called for collective support to cushion the impact of the disaster on the traders, many of whom depend solely on the market for their livelihood.
The incident has once again raised concerns over fire safety measures in major markets across Kwara State, with traders and residents calling for improved preventive mechanisms to avert future occurrences.
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