By Dayo Johnson

Akure—A mysterious fire outbreak gutted the popular Odopetu Market in Akure, the Ondo State capital and destroyed food items worth millions of naira.

Mostly affected in the Wednesday night fire were shops stocked with food items expected to be sold during the new year festivities.

No life was lost in the inferno, according to an eyewitness. Traders interviewed in the metropolis described the fire outbreak as mysterious.

While others speculated that the cause might be as a result of power surge, it was further learned that there was no power supply in the area when the incident occurred.

Food items destroyed by the fire, according to findings, are bags of rice and beans, tubers of yam, plantain, fruits, kegs of palm oil and vegetable oil among others.

An eyewitness said: “The cause of the fire incident is unknown to anyone because everybody had gone to sleep and all the traders have all gone home, when we started seeing smoke from the market.

“We just heard the noise in the night and by the time we got here, there was fire everywhere.”

Residents living close to the market reportedly made spirited efforts to put out the fire. It was gathered that distress calls put across to the officials of the state fire service failed.

At press time, men of the state fire service have not visited the scene of the incident.

One of the affected traders, who identified herself as Mrs. Janet Olorunfemi, told newsmen that she lost all she stocked in her shop to the fire.

Olorunfemi, while narrating her ordeal, said: “I was home when somebody called to inform me that the market was burning. I quickly rushed down and saw everything in my shop completely burnt.”

Reacting to the incident, Chairman of Akure South Local Government Area, Bayo Alarapon, described it as unfortunate, disclosing that a panel to investigate the incident would soon be set up.

He said: “It is very unfortunate that this kind of incident is happening during recession. On our own part, we shall look for ways to assist the affected traders.”