By Orisamuyikoya. A,Ore
The whole Ayeyemi-Otu Costain community,via Ore metropolis standstill, as no fewer than five shops including properties worth millions of naira were gut by fire along the ever busy Lagos-Benin Highway in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State at the early hours of Thursday.
Speaking on the damages caused by the inferno,three victims who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Otu costain, Mrs Nweke Amarachi, Mrs Bolanle Akinwole and a man whose identity was not revealed explained that the fire started around 3am on Thursday morning before it was put under control by residents and sympathisers from the community.
According to those shop owners,the inferno started around 3am midnight, consumed goods and other items including livestock meant for sale, despite efforts put in place by people living in the vicinity and passerbys who came to the scene to rescue belongings but to no avail all efforts proved abortive.
Stressing further on the loss, those affected people noted that the money used for the establishment of their business outlets were borrowed from microfinance institutions and cooperatives society with huge amount of interest rates.
"This is what we saw around 3am. The whole air was filled with smoke from a fierce fire, burning our goods meant for sale.
"We borrowed capital from LAPO and cooperative societies to start these businesses.
We beg our governor and other affluent publics for assistance to raise us".
Other residents of Ayeyemi-Otu Costain community further explained that the source of the fire incident could not be ascertained, noting that the community has since eight years ago, experiencing power outage in the area.
Those who spoke with newsmen on the development, therefore appealed to Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and other influential personalities in the State to consider them financially to revamp their businesses as they are left with nothing to succeed.
"Till now, nobody can say precisely the cause of the fire. No inflammation substance was kept. And likewise,this area has been in darkness since eight years ago. In fact, we're short of words". They added.
It could be recalled that similar incident had on September 24,2022 occurred along Ore-Okitipupa, Ore, where fire razed six shops with properties also worth millions of naira.
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