Fire razes Owode market in Kwara

An early morning inferno, on Tuesday, has reportedly gutted popular multi-billion naira Owode market in the ancient town of Offa, Kwara State.

The fire, which burnt no fewer than 20 shops, saw affected traders in the market in tears.

Tribune Online gathered that the inferno started following suspected power surge from one of the shops, as it spread to other shops.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on the incident, the head of Media and Publicity of the state’s Fire Services, Mr Hassan Adekunle, said that quick intervention of the fire brigade officers in Offa saved the market from being raised down completely.

“I want to tell you that the intelligence unit of the state fire services is working round the clock to know the immediate and remote causes of the inferno but one cannot rule out the issue of electric spark”, he said.

Also speaking, a trader, Alhaja Halima Saka, lamented over the incident, called on the government to come to the aid of the affected traders in the market.

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Meanwhile, the Offa Descendants’ Union, (O.D.U) has expressed deep shock over the inferno that gutted Owode market in the town.

In a statement issued in Offa in Tuesday signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the union, Alhaji Maruf Ajenifuja said that, “The extent of the inferno, which allegedly occurred at a location close to Alhaji Sanni Abba House, is yet to be ascertained but the union has deployed relevant officials to the scene of the fire outbreak for more details.

“O.D.U.has made emissaries to the State government in the past for new fire service truck and the upgrade of the Fire Service Station in Offa for efficient fire service delivery in order to safeguard lives and property of our people but we are still awaiting the positive response of the State Government.

“We sincerely hope that our amiable Governor will acceed to our humble request soonest in order to ameliorate this type of unfortunate fire incident in the future.

“Our fervent prayer is that Almighty God will give all the market men and women that lost valuable goods in this unfortunate fire incident the fortitude to bear the loss.”