Merchants at the Police Officers’ Wives (POWA) Mall continue to grieve over the catastrophic blaze that resulted in substantial losses amounting to millions of naira worth of merchandise and property in Yemetu, within the Ibadan North Local Government Area.
As per trustworthy information, the distressing event commenced in one of the stores around 2:09 AM and rapidly escalated to affect more than half a dozen shops in the same aisle.
A business owner impacted by the blaze confided to this journalist that she had lost her home to a fire merely twelve months prior.
She expressed that she has lost over 11 million naira due to this recent incident.
I offer an array of items including new shoes, school bags, handbags, shirts, and sewing needles. There’s plenty available. Particularly ladies’ footwear. The store is brimming with various goods. It houses numerous products such as provisions, salts, and minerals. Additionally, you can find fish, specifically stockfish, along with curry and spices.
That one over there has two big freezers and this one has a lengthy freezer. Both places are stocked with various products that I offer.
There is no way out. I am earnestly praying to God for His assistance at this moment. Last year, when I lost my home, it had a value exceeding ₦20 million.
There was no assistance left for me here. Within the barracks, I couldn’t find any support either. If God wishes to aid me at this moment, let Him act now. I face no issues; my hope lies solely with God. There’s nothing else besides relying on Him.
My home was destroyed by fire on February 21st last year, due to the nearby Police barracks. As a policeman’s spouse residing within the barracks grounds, I received no assistance from anyone. There wasn’t any support provided.
My organization provided me with just one mattress and ₦20,000. As you understand, we are assisting in the growth of the entity. Therefore, as per their stance, they believed perhaps the government might take some action. However, up until now, we haven’t received any assistance from any quarter.
This child was inside all along. Just look at how things are with my neighbors now. That same child who came to rescue another one. We couldn’t recall they were ever in the house. I didn’t even retain any memories of them being here initially. Everything was lost; our possessions vanished entirely. Currently, I’m getting by in a self-sufficient flat. Yet, recently, the fires consumed my stores once more—it’s incredibly distressing. Still, we express gratitude to God. The only thing I grasp is that God has knowledge of everything.
Only God can intercede for us now. When the local government arrived, we informed them of everything. We recounted what had occurred, just as you are inquiring about. If God decides to use them to help us, so be it.
Regardless, my fate is now in God’s hands. There’s nothing more we can do about it. I’m not sure. If God decides he wishes to assist us, then he has the power to do so.
Upon confirming the event, the General Manager of the State Fire Services, Akinyemi Akinyinka, stated that the distressing occurrence was reported precisely at 02:09 am on Saturday, January 10, 2025, via mobile phone by Mr. S.O. Soyombo about burning stores located at the specified location.
“The fire personnel, led by ACFS Adedeji (Mrs) promptly deployed to the scene and on getting there, it was discovered to be locked-up shops on fire and we quickly swung into action and we were able to curtail the fire in time. The fire was restricted from gaining momentum to other nearby shops.
“No casualty recorded, only six (6) shops were affected by fire out of twenty-four (24) locked up shops.
“The fire incident was as a result of the overheating of plugged deep freezer overnight, unattended caught fire and set the place ablaze.”
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