On New Year’s Day, a fire destroyed a row of six stores behind the New Orisumbare Market in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.
The fire, which occurred around 2 p.m. on Sunday, raged for almost one and a half hours until firefighters arrived.
According to witnesses, goods worth millions of naira were completely destroyed.
A furniture workshop, a trade store, a beauty and accessories shop, and the office of a shoe manufacturer were all damaged.
Ibrahim Adekunle, the spokesperson of the Fire Service in Osun State, confirmed the incident.
Mr Adekunle said the fire started from a burning bush beside the shops.
“About six shops affected, a furniture-making shop was completely consumed as the fire started from a nearby bush and undergrowth was set on fire by an unknown passerby and spread to those shops during the new year break,” he said.
“The fire actually affected some containers used as makeshift shops at the back of the new Orisunbare shopping complex,” he added.
Mr Adekunle, however, said a quick response of the firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to the main buildings at the Orisumbare market.
“Quick Intervention of firemen prevented the fire from spreading to the main complex, although it touched a small part of the facial board of the main complex via the backside where the fire started,” he noted.
“Estimated loss to the inferno cannot be ascertained as at the time of report because most owners who can give the actual account of their loss had been taken away from the scene.”
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, has visited the scene of the disaster.
Mr Igbalaye, who consoled the affected shop owners, assured them that the state government will look into the incident
