By Michael Adeyemo
Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in a midnight inferno that broke out at a farmers’ market popularly called “Oja agbe” at Moniya in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo state.
Several shops, containers, and kiosks were affected by the fire which was reported to have started around midnight.
The intervention of fire service men helped put out the inferno before it escalated to nearby residential areas
In a release sent out by the manager, of Oyo State Fire Service, Akinyemi Akinyinka, the fire was put out after the agency intercepted a distress call to avoid an escalation and more damage to property.
He added that the distress call was sent to his office around midnight on 2nd December and that the farmer’s market at Moniya Ibadan was on fire.
“The fire incident was reported to the Agency at exactly 00:27hrs and Mr Adelola that there were shops on fire at Moniya Garage, Oja Agbe, Ibadan.
“Immediately, the personnel of this Agency led by ACFS Oyedeji was deployed to the scene of the incident. On getting to the address, it was discovered to be rows of shops and container shops met well alight.
“We quickly swung into action and we were able to curtail the fire from where we met it and restricted it from spreading to all nearby shops and other properties”.
Akinyemi added that properties worth millions of naira were destroyed but the prompt intervention of firefighters saved others that could have been affected if the fire was not put out on time.
No life was lost in the fire, the statement added.
The fire service boss however advised residents of Oyo State to always handle fire with care to avoid fire incidents, especially during the harmattan period.
According to him, preliminary investigation showed that the remote cause of the fire incident was the plugging of electrical appliances unattended to.
