FIRE DESTROYS SIX SHOPS, N15M GOODS AT OWODE MARKET IN KWARA
Read Time:1 Minute, 54 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
A fire incident has destroyed six shops and goods worth millions of naira at the popular Owode Market in Offa, Kwara State.
The incident occurred on Wednesday after a fire reportedly triggered by bush burning spread to parts of the market located in the Isale Oja area of the town.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Fire Service, Kwara State Command, Jimoh Modibbo Ibrahim.
According to the statement, firefighters from the Offa Command of the Federal Fire Service responded promptly to the emergency following a directive from the Area Commander, Ali Sikiru.
“The Federal Fire Service, Kwara State Command, under the leadership of the State Controller, Mary Bakare, through its Offa Command and under the directive of the Area Commander, SF Ali Sikiru, on March 11, 2026, promptly responded to a fire at Owode Market, Isale Oja, Offa, Kwara State,” the statement said.
The firefighting team, led by Adedeji, arrived at the scene and quickly brought the fire under control to prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.
According to Ibrahim, firefighters deployed one medium jet of water from a fire truck to contain the blaze before carrying out extensive overhaul operations to prevent re-ignition.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire originated from bush burning, which later spread to adjoining shops within the market.
Although no lives were lost in the incident, the fire destroyed six shops and a large hall stocked with food items, including rice, beans, soya beans, yams and potatoes.
Other items destroyed included wheelbarrows and planks used for building purposes.
The command estimated the value of the destroyed property at about ₦15 million, while goods and structures worth about ₦45 million were saved due to the swift intervention of firefighters.
“The estimated value of property damaged is ₦15 million, while properties worth ₦45 million were successfully saved due to the swift intervention of firefighters,” Ibrahim said.
The command urged residents to avoid uncontrolled bush burning and observe fire safety precautions to prevent similar incidents.
Meanwhile, parts of the same market were affected by another fire incident in January, when a blaze razed sections of the livestock market, destroying no fewer than 10 stalls and causing panic among traders and residents.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0