Midnight fire razes Ibadan auto parts market

Etim Effiong

The largest auto spare parts market, Araromi Auto Spare Parts Market at Agodi-Gate in Ibadan, Oyo State has been destroyed by midnight fire.

It was learnt that the two teams of the fire fighters that came to the scene of the inferno could not do much to quell the fire as they lacked access to where the inferno was raging.

A source said the men of the fire fighters were seen dragging their water hoses to battle the raging inferno.

According to the source, by the time the first fire fighters truck hit the scene, the inferno had destroyed shops and goods. He noted that the inferno was still raging as at 8.15am.

Some traders, who also spoke with our correspondent said, the fire was caused by a power surge in one of the shops in the market.

They added that the market just had electricity supply restored recently after years of being without light.

A trader, who simply identified himself as Samson and deals in Toyota spare parts in the market, said the last time a similar inferno occurred in the auto spare market was 38 years ago.

A resident of Agodi-Gate, Pelumi Abdullahi, said: “As I gathered, the fire started around 12 midnight and is still burning as at 8:30am today.

“My Uncle’s shop is among the burnt ones. Everything he has in the shop has been burnt. He is betraying emotions now. He does not know where to start again.

“Blockade of roads with spare parts results in delay in fighting the inferno.”