Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has sent his heartfelt condolences to the people of Offa, especially the business community, on the unfortunate fire incident at the popular Owode market.
The Governor’s condolence message was contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary Rafiu Ajakaye.
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The Governor said the development was one tragedy too many, adding that a team from the state emergency management agency has since visited the market to take stock of the situation as well as deliver the government’s commiserations to the traders.
He said the fire incident again highlights the need for all stakeholders to be more proactive in preventing such outbreaks at home or in the marketplace.
While commending the fire service for their prompt response, he directs the Service to work more closely with marketers on modern fire prevention mechanisms and preparedness.
The Governor prayed to God to recompense the traders for their losses.
News Hub Mag! reports that properties including wares estimated at N360million was ravaged in an early morning inferno that engulfed Owode Market in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State yesterday.
News Hub Mag! learnt that 50 out of 3820 shops and 1180 stands were destroyed in the inferno.
Investigation showed that a leftover of smoked cigarette, which was inadvertently dropped on the ground, precipitated the fire outbreak.
News Hub Mag! gathered that a combined team of fire fighters from the state and federal fire services stormed the market after receiving a distress call on the incident.
It was revealed that the incident caused anxiety in the market as traders ran helter-skelter while the inferno lasted.
Confirming the fire outbreak, the Head, Media and Publicity Department of the state fire service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, said fire fighters deployed to the scene salvaged properties worth N12billion in the market.
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Adekunle, in a statement issued, noted that a drop of cigarette caused the fire outbreak.
The statement quoted the Director of the state fire service, John Falade, to have sympathized with the vendors, who suffered losses and the entire market community.
Falade also expressed optimism for the restoration of lost property and emphasized the imperative of maintaining vigilance and safety consciousness at all times.
“In a commendable display of promptness and efficiency, the Kwara State Fire Service swiftly responded to a devastating fire outbreak at Owode Market in Offa Local Government Area in the early hours of Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024.
“Upon receiving the distress call at approximately 02:30 hours, a team led by ACF Oyeyipo James immediately sprang into action. Arriving at the scene, they were met with a harrowing sight – numerous shops ablaze, with federal firefighting counterparts already engaged in combatting the inferno.
“Undeterred, the Kwara State Fire Service personnel joined forces with their federal counterparts, deploying two fire appliances from different stations to effectively tackle the raging blaze.
“The collaborative efforts of the firefighting teams proved instrumental in bringing the situation under control. Despite the daunting challenge, it took a concerted five-hour-long battle to fully extinguish the flames, ensuring the safety of lives and property within the vicinity.
“Initial assessment revealed that Owode Market, a bustling commercial hub housing 3820 shops and 1180 stands, remarkably suffered minimal damage. Only 50 shops bore the brunt of the inferno, thanks to the swift response and decisive actions of the Fire Service.
“The value of commodities and property salvaged by the firefighting efforts is estimated to exceed N12billion, providing a significant relief amidst the crisis. However, the unfortunate incident resulted in property losses amounting to N360million.
“Following a thorough investigation, it was determined that the fire was sparked by a dropped cigarette end igniting combustible materials, underscoring the critical importance of fire safety awareness and preventive measures”, the statement said.
