By: Oluwatosin Adesola
Residents of Ijomu area in Akure, Ondo State have raised alarm following an early morning inferno which razed several shops and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
SUNSHINETRUTH learnt that the fire incident which affected about 20 shops started around 4:00am destroying goods drugs, consumables, assorted drinks, textiles, leather goods as well as electronics.
The Shop owners lamented that some of their shops were looted during the inferno.
The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo has also visited the scene to assess the level of destruction.
Some of the victims and eyewitnesses who spoke to Channels Television said they were able to put out the fire through self-efforts as firefighters were unavailable.
The Community leader, Afolabi Fayehun, said frantic efforts were made to get help from fire service officials. He claimed he was told by the officials that there was no fire fighting truck available in the state.
Modupe Daramola, a victim who spoke in Yoruba Language said her tailoring shop was destroyed by the inferno. Items burnt include all her machines as well as customers’ clothes. She appealed to the government for assistance to re-boost her small-scale business.
Some of the victims who have just stocked their shops with goods before the incident were said to have collapsed and rushed to the hospital on seeing the damages done by the inferno.
Another owner of the shops got by fire, One Mr. Chibueke, recounted his experience.
He told Metro Hope that the fire started from one of the shop on their line.
He added that it is possible to be power surge or anything. He said all his goods worth millions of naira were raized by fire and burnt beyond.
Another owner of the affected shops, who could not say a word as tears rolled down from her face was only lament about where to start again.
Many residents tried to put out the fire and also took possession of some stationery materials from bookstores affected by the inferno.
Some of the properties destroyed by the fire are, tailoring materials shops, Bookshops,Mtn shops and some houses.
The affected owners pleaded with the government to come to their aids.
Recounting her loses, Mrs Atinuke Ogoh who owns a provision store at the area, said she was at home when she received a call from somebody that fire have gutted her shop.
She explained that she quickly raised to her shop and on getting their many sympathizer were trying put off the fire and her shop has been affected while N100,000 she collected for contribution was stolen and all property destroyed.
She said she cannot quantify what was destroyed in her shop, however appealed to government to come to her aid.
Also speaking Mrs Modupe Daramola who food items said all her food items were gutted by the infeno.
She stated the properties destroyed by the fire cannot be easily quantified.
Mrs famoguro Bose whose shop was also affected lamented loses adding a lot properties have been destroyed and that nobody could explained the immediate causes of fireoutbreak.