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Tag: Ibadan fire

  • Ibadan fire: ‘Market has no fire truck, water supply’

    Ibadan fire: ‘Market has no fire truck, water supply’

    The number of shops and properties razed at the Aleshinloye market in Ibadan Southwest Local Government Area was high because the market lacked a fire truck as well as  adequate water supply, the National Emergency Management Agency, Southwest Zone, has said.

    During the incident, over 500 shops and goods worth billions of naira were consumed by the fire.

    Speaking after an assessment, the Zonal Coordinator, Mr Kadiri Olanrewaju said despite the challenges, the responders, including the State Fire Services, their Sumal and Sweetco counterparts, were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the other parts of the markets.

    The Zonal coordinator said: “No fatalities were recorded. However, several individuals sustained minor injuries from smoke inhalation and shock while attempting to salvage their goods. However, over 500 shops and stalls were destroyed.

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    “Eyewitness accounts indicate that the fire started in the Plastic Merchants Section of the market before rapidly spreading to surrounding stalls due to the highly flammable nature of stored goods.

    “Emergency response teams included the state Fire Service, private fire units from SWEETCO and SUMAL, market security personnel and volunteers.’’

    “Efforts to control the fire were hampered by challenges such as the absence of a functional fire truck at the market’s fire station and an inadequate water supply. Despite these setbacks, responders successfully prevented the fire from spreading to other sections of the market.

    “To mitigate the risk of future occurrences, NEMA recommends the following, strengthening fire safety measures, equipping market fire stations with functional fire trucks and adequate water supply, conducting regular fire drills and safety training for traders, enhancing emergency response infrastructure, establishing a well-equipped emergency response unit within the market.

    “Strengthening partnerships between the Federal and state governments and private organizations to improve disaster response, supporting affected traders, providing emergency relief packages to help traders recover.”

  • Ibadan fire: Couple, grandson cried to their death – Neighbours

    Ibadan fire: Couple, grandson cried to their death – Neighbours

    Residents of Omotara’s Compound, Ori Eru, Idikan, in Ibadan North West Local Government Area of Oyo State have revealed how a 60-year-old man, known as ‘Baba Yunus’, his wife, and their eight-year-old grandson, Samuel, were burnt to death Friday morning in their house.

    The residents described the incident as devastating, and sorrowful, saying that the deceased cried till they died.

    The residents said they couldn’t rescue them because of the burglary on their window which was the only exit point  for them when the fire started.

    Some of the residents, who spoke in tears with our correspondent, noted that  the fire was so fierce  that no one could move close to it.

    One of the residents, Bose Ayinde, who also lived inside the house that got burnt said, “The fire started at midnight when we had all slept. We suddenly heard a loud voice “e gba wa o! e gba wa o (save us , save us)!  We even thought it was thieves that came to our house. We woke ourselves announcing that thieves were around but we subsequently found out that our house had caught fire.

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    “When we rushed out, we realised it was a fire, we couldn’t help the victims because the fire was so severe to the extent that no one could  even move close to it. We are very sad because the husband, wife and their grandson got burnt to death.”

    Also bemoaning the heartrending incident, Alfa Aliu Omotara, who resides in a house directly opposite the burnt house said, “We suddenly heard the victims shouting fire, fire, around 3am.  The fire started from their parlor. All our efforts to rescue them proved abortive.

    “NEPA used to give us light between 12:30am to 6:30. When the fire started, the victims started shouting for help.  The couples slept inside the room but the fire started from their parlour, so, there was no other exit point for them to go out except through the parlour because the exit point in the room had been blocked with loads.

    “If the exit door inside the room was free, though the victims’ belongings would burn, they would have  escaped.  Their efforts to escape through the window proved abortive because of the burglary on the window, the wife died first, the husband and son came to the window shouting for help, we were downstairs looking at them upstairs, but we couldn’t help them because the fire was so ferocious  that no one could  even move close to it.

    “It’s been over 60 years since the house was built. The owner of the house was a friend to my father. Baba Yunus and his wife were good people.  They were easy going. For  over 10 year they that they lived in this area, no one ever heard them fighting.

    “The incident was a bitter and sorrowful experience for people in this area. People should be careful with fire, particularly electricity.

    Also speaking, another resident, Mrs Dupe Ajibade said, the incident was a sad development because those who lost their lives were good persons, particularly the wife. She was so lovely and kind.

    “The incident happened around 3am when we heard a loud noise. If not for people in the area that tried their best to curtail the fire, all houses close to the area would have got burnt.

    “The house had already being razed before the arrival of fire fighters. The incident was a great loss. We burst into tears when the  bodies of the deceased were laid on the ground.

    “We heard the husband was cooking with a hot plate but slept off during the process. The husband, a 60-year-old, was a bike rider, while his wife sold provisions.”

  • I feel your pain, lawmaker sympathises with Ibadan fire outbreak victims

    I feel your pain, lawmaker sympathises with Ibadan fire outbreak victims

    The lawmaker representing Oluyole Federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe has sympathised with victims of fire incident at Ire Akari Estate Soka, Ibadan.

    She said she received the devastating news in her constituency with pity, extending heartfelt sympathy to affected families and owners of businesses affected by the tragic incident.

    Speaking during her visit to the scene of the incident to assess the extent of damages, the lawmaker assured the community to engage other stakeholders to ensure some relief to those affected. 

    While details of the fire outbreak are still uncertain and filled with speculations, the Lawmaker said it currently appears it was as a result of refuse burning. 

    She said: “I appeal to our communities to exercise extreme caution, especially during the harmattan season which poses an increased fire risk.

    “It is crucial to also advise both businesses and households to recognize the importance of having fire extinguishers in their respective premises. 

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    “This simple measure can serve as a first responder in case of a fire outbreak, potentially reducing the losses or controlling the situation before the arrival of the fire service team.”

    The Chairperson House Committee on Ethics and Privileges urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the affected community with relief materials.

    “The reality on the ground is saddening, I appeal to the National Emergency Management Agency of Nigeria (NEMA) to come to the assistance of our community.

    “In times like this, let us come together as a community, to support one another, and demonstrate resilience in the face of this loss,” she said.