It was a night of devastation and despair, as a raging fire swept through sections of the famous Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The fire reduced properties worth millions of naira to ashes, leaving stories of destruction, as an aftermath of an inferno that took people back to square one.
The traders watched helplessly, as their livelihood went up in flames in Aleshinloye Market.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire spread rapidly, engulfing shops and warehouses filled with goods.
One distraught trader reportedly lost 15 shops to the blaze, while countless others counted their losses as the fire tore through their businesses.
Firefighters
The General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, Mr Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the tragic incident.
He stated that firefighters had been battling the flames since the early hours of the morning.
“Our men are currently working tirelessly at Aleshinloye Market,” he said.
“We deeply appreciate the management of SWEETCO for providing their fire truck and personnel—it has been an enormous effort. We are also grateful to Sumal for deploying their team to assist in containing the fire. Their support has been invaluable.”
Despite their relentless efforts, the full extent of the damage remains unknown, but early reports suggest that goods worth several millions of naira have been destroyed.
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Meanwhile, the authorities have urged the public to avoid the area as emergency response teams continue their work.
Also, investigations into the cause of the fire are also expected to commence soon.