Fire razes properties worth millions of naira in Ondo

AN early morning fire outbreak on Thursday morning destroyed properties worth millions of Naira at the Rate office of Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The inferno which started around 1 am also destroyed about 100 shops at a shopping complex located beside the palace of Deji of Akure and the National Museum beside the complex.

Some of the items destroyed included, Computers, air conditioners, typing machines, spiral binding machines, stationaries, generators, office chairs and tables among other equipment were razed to ashes during the inferno.

According to a source, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, noticed the fire outbreak around 1 am and called the Fire Service, only to be told that there was no water and fuel to get to the scene of the incident.

He said no one could ascertain the cause of the inferno and said those who came to rescue the situation watched helplessly as the fire razed down the shops and buildings.

He, however, said the monarch called the officials of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who came to rescue the situation but the fire had affected most of the shops within the commercial centre.

Some of the shop owners were seen at the scene of incident crying, lamenting and wailing over their loss.

The Chairperson of the market, Mrs. Elizabeth Orogun, lamented over the destruction of the commercial centre by the fire outbreak and explained that the inferno was a mystery as no one could explain the cause.

She said ” I was alerted through a call around 1:30 am from one of the revenue officers at the complex and I called the Fire Service men about three times but there was no response from them.

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“When they came to the scene of the incident, they said there was no water and no fuel in their van to look for water to save the situation.

“This is all we have and used to support our families. our source of livelihood had been destroyed by the fire. Our children are in schools and I don’t know how our people will survive this.

She pleaded with the state government and other well-meaning Nigerians to assist them financially, to enable them to go back to business.

“We want to call on the state government and public to come to the aid. I want to specifically call on the good governor of Ondo state, Mr. Akeredolu, to come to our aid by providing financial assistance to make life more meaningful to us.”

The Secretary to the State Governor, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, who led some government officials to the scene of the fire incident with Oba Aladetoyinbo, described the incident as pathetic.

Speaking with newsmen, the Chairman of Akure South local government area, Mrs Margaret Atere, described the incident as sad and devastating.

Atere commended Oba Aladelusi for the steps taken in curbing the fire, saying “the damages would have been more than this.”

The local Council Chairman who suspected no foul play over the fire incident at the rate office, however, assured shop owners that the state government will come to their aid to rescue the situation.

Atere said “this is so sad and pathetic, I have moved around to assess the damages and some government officials have also visited the scene of the fire outbreak. I am assuring the shop owners that government will surely support them.”