Traders in agony as fire razes 12 shops in Ado-Ekiti

Not less than 12 shops were razed in a shopping complex in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, with goods valued at millions of Naira gone.

A shopping complex located near the popular Ile Abiye Hospital on Ilawe Road was gutted by fire at 1.20 pm with much damage done before firemen got to the scene...


Agrochemicals, textile, cooking utensils, animal feeds, saloon, stationery store, computer centre, among others.

Besides the firefighters, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the police were on ground to carry out rescue operation.

One of the victims, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Genge, claimed that some unidentified individuals were burning bush inside Ile Abiye, which spread into the complex.

Mrs. Genge said: “Some people were burning bush and refuse inside Ile Abiye and it spread to the complex here. I don’t know where to start again but I want the government to assist us.”

Another victim, Chukwuemeka Damike, said: “I went to town to buy something and some people called me shouting Fire! Fire!! I ran back only to discover that my shop has been burnt.

“The shop is finished, I have nothing else, even one Naira is not in my pocket again.”

Oluwabanke Ojo, an expectant mother, lamented the huge loss incurred in the blaze. According to her, she is a graduate who took to trading after looking for jobs without success for six years.

Ekiti NEMA Head of Operations, Saheed Akiode, said the agency contacted the Fire Service after receiving a distress call.