Government of Oyo State were on Wednesday thrown into confusion when a
section of the market was razed by fire. The market went up in flames
at around 10am as an
inflammable product (adhesive) allegedly caught fire destroying items
worth millions of naira. The President, Labaowo International Market,
Alhaji Lukmon Alaka, said tragedy struck when a woman opened a can of
gum near another woman who was cooking.
Alaka said, "A woman was cooking noodles beside her
when the place went up in flames following an explosion. The shops
went up in flames." He, however, stated that traders at the market had
been warned against cooking in the market.
According to him, three people with five buildings were
affected by the inferno. However, he said no life was lost
in the incident.
Those injured were said to have been taken to an undisclosed
hospital where they were treated and discharged. Recalling that it was
the second time the market would be razed by fire, Alaka said close to
one billion naira
worth of property were destroyed. The chairman, while calling on the
state government to provide fire station in the market, solicited
assistance for victims of the inferno.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Oyo
State Command, Mr. Musa Kimo, who was at the scene,
said they were expected to protect the people and ensure that hoodlums
did not take advantage of the situation.