By Channels TV

Fire on Sunday razed part of Araromi Market at Agodi Gate in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, destroying goods worth millions of Naira. 

Mostly affected were shops where new and used tyres and other motor parts were sold.

The cause of the fire disaster is yet unknown but some of the affected traders suspect that refuse burning might have led to the disaster.

It is unclear how many shops were affected but the damage in the affected shops were absolute, as nothing could be salvaged from the rubble.

Some of the affected traders said despite the timely response of the state fire service, the damage was enormous, as the affected shops sell heavy duty tyres for truck, caterpillars and trailers which were all razed.

One of the traders, Mr Oluwafemi Ojo, told Channels Television that he was called at about 5:00 a.m. with the news that their shops were burning.

“We have to run here and by getting here at about few minutes to six, we met fire service men, police and civil defence officials trying to put out the fire.

“Few days ago, my mother bought some goods into her shop there. The items there is over 50 million and my wife’s shop is also there and they all got burnt,” he said.

Although the fire has been put off, smoke and heaps of burnt tyres and other goods are evidence of the destruction that had occurred at the market mostly built with wood and roofing sheets.

Some owners of the shops razed had arrived the scene to find their property gone. All they could see were heaps of ashes.

Agony and pain were all that could be seen on their faces, as they count their losses.

With their hands they search the rubble for anything to salvage.

Oludayo Akande, another shop owner said he lost so many goods to the fire and sought the government’s support for the affected persons.

“We want the government to help those affected because so many people have lost their money. Some people brought their goods to sell for Christmas but all that is gone now,” Oludayo told Channels Television.

The traders at the Agodi Gate Tyre and Auto Spare Parts Market are, however, calling  on the Oyo State Government to come to their aid to cushion the huge loss.