It definitely wasn't a Merry Christmas for traders in the plank section of the Sango Market, Ibadan, as their shops along with their goods was gutted by an inferno yesterday.
Scene of the fire incident
In what could be described as a black Christmas for traders in the popular Sango Market, Ibadan, fire razed over 200 shops in plank section of the market.
Sources say the inferno started around 3pm in the market located at Alaro area of Sango. According to information gathered, planks estimated at over N250m was lost in the disaster.
The vehicle belonging to the Oyo State Fire Service was seen rushing towards Eleyele Water Works for a refill when it ran out of water.
Though, nobody could give an account of what caused the fire, one Segun, a trader in the market told Vanguard the fire started after after he left his shop where he had attended to a customer.
He said, “Shortly after I attended to a customer who called me on phone, I had the call that the shops had caught fire”.
Another trader, Ade said he lost planks and equipment worth more than N5m in their shops.
Mr. Afolabi said several sawing machines and other logging equipment were lost to the fire.
He rated the fire service men low saying , “Each time the vehicle left to refill water, we lost more shops because the fire would gain more ground. Don’t forget this is the time of the year when fire incidents are rampant because we are in the dry season. More fire service vehicles are needed to forestall possible overnight fire here. As you can see, we now pay to bring water tanker to help the fire service men.”
He called on the state government to come to the aid of the traders.