It was a black Christmas for traders in the popular Sango Market, Ibadan as fire razed over 200 shops in plank section of the market.
The market which at Alaro area of Sango was reportedly gutted by an inferno which started around 3pm and was yet to be put out as at 8pm.
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.
According to information gathered, planks estimated at over N250m was lost in the disaster.
Though, nobody could give an account of what caused the fire, one Segun, a trader in the market said 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. Vanguard
