Fire guts electronics shopping mall in Abeokuta

An early morning fire on Sunday gutted a three-storey building shopping mall known as Olujimi electronics located in Totoro area of Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital, consuming electronics estimated to run into millions of naira.

Penpushing reports that, an eyewitness said the fire started at about 6.00am from a nearby paint depot which has inscription ‘Wall Care Paints Depot”, a development suspected to be caused by electricity power surge.

The fire spread to the electronic shopping mall, as residents looked helpless before contacting the Federal Fire Service, and in a twinkle the officials raced to the scene, and later supported by the team of the Ogun State Fire Service.

Penpushing further reports that, the Assistant Officer in charge of the Federal Fire Service, Adegoke Adeoye who was at the scene of the incident alongside his team to control the fire said they got telephone call about the incident and immediately proceeded to the scene.

The Fire officer said, they were still battling to control the fire as at the time of filing this report, adding that, the source was still yet to be established, but explained that information so far gathered from the neighbours suspected that the fire started from the paint shop

‘Our assessment and observation as at now pointed to possible electricity spark, which attracted the kegs of paints inside the paint shop, causing the fire which thereafter spread to the electronics mall. We were able to retrieve some items with the support of residents’, he said

Penpushing also reports that, Adeoye explained that as at the time of fighting the fire, the owner of the mall was yet to be identified, adding that, ’safety first is our priority. We are still battling with the fire, as you can see’

The Principal Fire Inspector, Sodiq Kifuli in his own reactions said the officials came with 6,000 litres of water which was exhausted within twenty minutes, following the high rate of the fire, and appealed to the state government on the need to considered the provision of fire hydrant at various locations, which will always ease water shortage in a situation like this.

Penpushing reports that, Kifuli said, having exhausted 6,000 litres of water within twenty minutes, it was the State Fire Service, which came with support of additional water, adding that so far as at the time they were still battling to quench the fire, they have used 25,000 litres.

The Principal Officer said, no life was lost in the incident, and also called on residents and management of various companies on the need to acquire fire extinguisher in their homes and offices, to be able to address fire outbreak before getting out of hands.

Penpushing further reports that, at the scene, some police chieftains which include; Area Commander, Abeokuta Metro, Musiliu Aliu, Divisional Police Officer, Ibara Police State Station, CSP Afolabi Kazeem, Divisional Police Officer, Enugada Police Station, SP Nurudeen Hamzat, Divisional Police Officer, Adigbe Police Station, Godwin Opaleke and Divisional Police Officer, Lafenwa Police Station Muraina Ayilara led their men to the scene to control possible looting by suspected street urchins.

Meanwhile, other agencies on ground  to supervise and control the environment also include, Ogun State Traffic Compliance Agency, Department of Security Service(DSS) and Non-Governmental Organisatiosn among others