Some traders at the Araromi Spare Parts Market in Agodi, Ibadan, are still calculating their losses after their stores were damaged and property worth more than 30 million naira was lost to an early morning fire incidence on Saturday.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the fire broke out at two in the morning on Saturday, destroying the stores before fire crews arrived.
Speaking in an interview, two of the affected merchants, Mr. Hassan Olanrewaju, a welder, and Mrs. Ibikunle Yetunde, a drink vendor—explained that they were horrified to hear about the heinous incident and bemoaned the fact that their stores were burned before they arrived.
Another trader at the market, Mr. Dapo, lamented his losses and explained that the products in his shop were bought with loans he had obtained.
The businessmen pleaded with the government to step in immediately to help them as their businesses were their sole source of income.