The Kwara State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Hon Aisha Ahman Pategi, sympathized with the victims of the inferno at Owode Market in Offa Local Government which resulted in the loss of properties and merchandise worth millions of naira
In a statement signed by the press secretary to the ministry, Oba Azeez , the Hon Commissioner expressed shock over the incident and commiserated with the Olofa of Offa, Oba Muftau Gbadamosi and the people who lost valuables to the fire. She said she understood what the tragedy means to the victims, Offa LG and Kwara State at a time of economic recovery in Offa.
Hon Aisha Ahman Pategi noted that Offa LGA is one of the industrial hubs of Kwara state and the importance of the market to the local community and the state cannot be overstated. She prayed that “Allah puts succour in the hearts of those who lost valuables.”
The Hon Commissioner also advised caution in using electricity and items that are hazardous which could ignite a fire. She also pledged that her Ministry will work with the community and concerned authorities on how to assist the victims and prevent future tragedies.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 23 shops were reportedly razed down, with goods worth millions of naira destroyed, in an early morning inferno on Tuesday at Owode market, in Offa, Kwara State.
It was gathered that the ravaging fire started around 1:00am and before the Fire Brigade could be reached many shops had been engulfed in the inferno.
However, revealed that the eventual arrival of the Fire Brigade prevented the inferno from spreading to other shops and houses in the vicinity.
Reacting to the incident, the Head, Media and Publicity of the Kwara Fire Service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, said that though the intelligence unit of the Fire Brigade was working to know the immediate and remote causes of the fire outbreak, he suspected that electric spark might be the cause.
He said: “And if not because of the quick intervention of the Fire Brigade, the disaster would have been greater. About 23 shops were affected due to the little delay in reaching out to the fire brigade.
“The cause of the inferno was suspected to be an electric spark, even though the intelligent team of the State Fire Brigade is still working on that to unravel and ascertain the actual cause or causes of the fire outbreak.”
