It was a terrible Thursday morning for small business owners at Akungba-Akoko as fire razed several properties.
The incident occurred today (March 6, 2025) beside Adekunle Ajasin University’s (AAUA) small gate popularly called OBJ small gate today.
The cause of the fire has not yet been fished out.
According to an eyewitness, the fire started between 6 am to 7 am.
A bikeman, who was at the scene when the fire started said the damage would have been minimized if there had been enough assistance.
“We were trying to stop the fire, even in the process the fire almost burned my hands. Instead of people assisting us, they were videoing the moment,” he lamented.
One of the shop owners, fondly called Honourable, said the incident was a shock, mourning the damage to his business.
“I was at my shop this morning around 6 am to sweep the place. After cleaning up, I quickly rushed back home for something. It was on my way I was told shops at a small gate were burning.
“It was like a dream and a shock. I even thought they were burning tyres until I got to my shop to see that fire had burned down everything,” he narrated.
Another shop owner, Who pleaded anonymity with our reporter, said, “I suddenly received a call early this morning that fire was burning shops at the small gate. I live outside Akungba. When I got to Oke-Irigbo. The rising smoke I saw far away made me give up that all was gone.
“I tried to use the small fire extinguisher in my car but before I noticed I had forgotten my shop key while rushing to the scene,” he added.
One of the eyewitnesses said the firefighters who were around tried their best but to no avail.
