NIGERIA: Fire Guts Owode Market in Offa, Destroy Properties Worth Millions.

By Balogun Arisekola Azeez, Offa, Kwara State.

A fire outbreak on Wednesday razed parts of Owode Market in Offa, Kwara State.

The Fire outbreak reportedly started between 1 to 3 am in the morning destroyed no fewer than 10 stalls in the goats and sheep sellers’ section of the popular market Owode main market in Offa, Offa local government area of Kwara state.

Eyewitnesses said the fire broke out early in the morning, throwing traders and nearby residents into panic as efforts were made to contain the flames and prevent further spread.

As of the time of filing this report the cause of the inferno could not be ascertained.

Although no casualty was reported, affected traders were said to have suffered significant losses, as goods and properties worth millions of naira were 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, chairman Honorable Sulaiman Olatunji Laaro Omituntun, to provide urgent assistance to help the victims recover from the losses.

At the scene of the incident, the Iyaloja General of Offa land, 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 rely solely on the market for their livelihood.

The incident has once again raised concerns over fire safety measures in major markets across the state, as traders and residents called for improved preventive mechanisms to avert future occurrences.

Main while, the Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government, Hon. Sulaiman Olatunji Omituntun, has expressed deep sympathy with traders and residents affected by the unfortunate incident at Owode Market, describing the situation as painful and disheartening.

In a show of compassion and responsive leadership, the Chairman dispatched a delegation to the scene to assess the level of damage, commiserate with the victims, and reassure them of the local government’s commitment to their welfare.

The delegation was led by Hon. Muritala Saheed of Essa ‘B’ Ward, alongside Hon. Idowu Muideen of Ojomu Central ‘B’ Ward, who conveyed the Chairman’s heartfelt mess

age to the affected traders.