A fire outbreak has razed parts of the popularOdo Oba Market in Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State in the early hours of Tuesday.
Sources said the inferno broke out in the busy foodstuff market, with thick smoke and flames billowing from different sections as traders made frantic efforts to rescue their goods.
Many of the traders were said to be helpless as they struggled to reach firefighters and other emergency agencies for prompt intervention.
Odo Oba Market, located along the Oyo–Ogbomoso axis of the Ibadan–Ilorin federal highway, is widely known as the largest 24-hour foodstuff market in South-West Nigeria.
The market serves as a major commercial hub where buyers and sellers from across the country converge daily to trade in agricultural produce.
The market deals in a variety of commodities including yam, palm oil, rice, tomatoes, onions, pepper, as well as grains such as maize, sorghum, millet and wheat, making it one of the most important food distribution centres in the region.
As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire and the extent of damage had yet to be determined, while traders and residents were still battling to contain the flames.
Authorities and emergency responders have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The full extent of the damage could not be immediately determined as of the time of filing this report. However, a source disclosed that goods worth several millions of naira were affected by the inferno.
The development has sparked concern among traders and transporters who depend heavily on the market for the supply and distribution of foodstuffs across Oyo State and other parts of the country.
More details later.
