Traders lose millions as fire guts shops in Ondo city

By Boye Oyeyemi –

A devastating fire has destroyed at least seven shops in the palm oil section of Sabo market, Ondo City, Ondo State, leaving traders counting heavy losses.

The blaze, which reportedly began around midnight, spread rapidly, consuming hundreds of palm oil kegs and other valuables worth millions of naira.

One of the worst-hit traders, Bunmi, popularly called Suka, said, “I have two shops with hundreds of kegs of palm oil and other valuables burnt to ashes. I don’t know what to do; we are calling for help from well-meaning Nigerians.”

Another trader recounted losing 1,800 empty kegs and twenty kegs filled with palm oil, adding that colleagues who trade in palm oil could only watch helplessly as their stock was reduced to rubble.

“We have millions of naira burnt in some shops also because today, Sunday, happened to be our market day. We go to the farm to buy palm oil and bring it to the city, so many of us keep the cash in our shops.

“Millions of naira have been lost. Some of the traders here collected loans to buy goods for their shops. We are appealing to both the local and state governments to come to our aid,” he stated.

Eyewitnesses said the fire spread too quickly for any meaningful rescue, and residents described the incident as a “devastating blow” to the community.

Adeleke Lukman and Aderonke Adeniyi called on authorities to provide support and functional fire service facilities to prevent future tragedies.