Osun: Traders Count Losses As Fire Razes Ilesa Market

Goods worth hundreds of millions of naira were in the midnight destroyed after a fire gutted part of the popular at Atakumosa central market Ilesa.

The fire outbreak, according to eyewitnesses started at the Post Office section of the market some minutes past 2am, Sunday morning.

When CityMirrorNews visited the scene of the fire incident, the affected traders whose goods and shops were burnt down, could not hide their tears and pains as they counted their losses.

Eyewitnesses said personnel of the Federal and Osun State Fire Services made frantic efforts to prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the market.

Also, a combined team of men and officers from Ayeso A and Ijamo B Divisions of the Nigerian Police were on ground to prevent looting during efforts to salvage goods and prevent the fire from spreading to other shops located in the market.

Shop owners and sympathisers who thronged the market also made efforts to salvage some of their goods.

Though the fire was brought under control around 4am, fire service personnel on ground said the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

Most affected were boutiques, food items and provision shops located in the market.

It could be recalled that the Osun State Government, had commissioned the new market after the old one was destroyed in a similar fire outbreak some years back.