Fire Engulfed Local Market, Traders Wept Over Loss, Government Sympathize With Victims.
MARKET stalls and goods worth millions of naira, were lost in a fire incident that occurred Sunday 9th of August, 2015 at ‘Atakumosa city market’ in Ilesa West local government area of Osun state Nigeria.
The cause of the fatal fire incident which erupted at about 6.00pm in the evening was not known as of the time of this report.
Eye witnesses questioned at the spot of the incident, however indicated that the fire started as a smoke from a small shop and when it was not quickly checked, it spread in relay to other nearby shops in the central area of the market and since it was Sunday, all shops were locked and many of the traders stayed at home to rest.
Men of the resident Ilesa town fire brigade service close to the market, joined by their state fire brigade service counterparts from Osogbo the state capital ( a distance of about 30 Km), with all available fire fighting resources saved the entire market from being totally raised down by fire.
Social media platform and the prompt public announcement by the city based ‘Unique FM radio station’ informed the people and government. This inevitably attracted quick support for the control of the fire.
Many on lookers rendered great help in evacuating valuable goods from shops for safety. The presence of state police security men, did not allow for looting by hoodlums who might want to use the opportunity of the sad incident to loot shops
The state governor, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola and the King, Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Dr. Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, on Monday 10th August,2015 visited the scene of the disaster and shared their grief and feelings with the traders and the entire people of the ancient town for the great loss and was grateful to God no lives were lost as a result of the incident.
This is the second fire incident that has ravaged shops and goods of traders in Ilesa town this year. The first occurred less than two months ago and affected a few trading stores close to the town hall near the King’s palace. Renovation and repairs of the stores damaged are nearing completion, when this last fire incident occurred.