A devastating fire outbreak at the Oba Lipede Market in Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State, left one person injured, 15 shops razed, and goods worth millions of naira destroyed. The fire reportedly began around 10 pm on Saturday, originating from one of the makeshift shops located outside the main market premises. Eyewitnesses attribute the cause of the blaze to a power surge at a palm kernel shop that was operating with gas, leading to a catastrophic explosion.
In the aftermath, the scene on Sunday morning was one of chaos and despair. Traders were seen weeping over their substantial losses. Among them were Basiru and Tolani Moses, a couple whose adjacent shops were completely destroyed. Basiru recounted with distress that ₦500,000 in cash, intended for a bank deposit on Monday, was lost to the flames, along with goods valued at ₦1.5 million.
Tejumade Bakre, the market leader, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and revealed that there were incidents of looting in the immediate aftermath of the fire. However, swift intervention by security agents helped to mitigate further losses. The scale of the damage prompted an urgent visit by key stakeholders, including the Commissioner for Special Duties, Funmi Efuwape; the Director of the State Emergency Management Agency, Wale Sonde; the Director of the State Fire Service, Fatai Adefala; and the Chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government, Omolaja Majekodunmi, who all came to assess the situation firsthand.
Commissioner Efuwape provided a detailed account, noting that ten shops outside the market and five within the main building were affected. She emphasized that the interior shops might have been spared if not for the illegal structures outside that exacerbated the spread of the fire. She also announced plans for an integrity test on the main market building to ensure its safety and disclosed that the government would implement measures to renovate the market.
Fire Service Director Adefala explained the technicalities behind the fire, stating, “The fire started due to a power surge at a palm kernel shop that was recycling using gas. The gas explosion led to the fire spreading rapidly, particularly affecting the chalets outside the main Lipede market.”
The incident has not only caused significant financial losses but also highlighted the dangers associated with unregulated market structures and the need for stringent safety measures. As the affected traders begin the arduous process of rebuilding their lives and businesses, the government’s prompt action in assessing and planning renovations offers a glimmer of hope for a safer and more secure market environment in the future.
