Traders at the Bodija Plank Market have continued to count their losses following a fire disaster that razed some parts of the market on Monday night.

Recall that Araromi spare parts market in Ibadan was razed about a week ago where goods worth billions of Naira were destroyed.

Correspondent Kunle Ojo reports that the incident at the plank markets started around 8 pm on Monday but the timely arrival of officers of the Oyo state fire service prevented the inferno from spreading to other parts of the market.

As of the time of this report, the cause of the incident remains unknown. Some of the traders affected by the inferno have continued to count their losses. A cross-section of the victims who spoke with our correspondent said there was no electricity around the time the incident happened.

According to some of the victims, all they had was an explosion at a section of the market which later ravaged about 22 shops at the plank market adding that the timely arrival of firefighters curtailed the spread of the inferno.

The traders suspected foul play and called on the state government to investigate the incident and as well come to the aid of the victims.

One of the victims that spoke with Galaxy TV correspondent said, “We have been devastated by the incident, we can't explain how it happened because we have closed for the day. I was called around 8 pm yesterday that our shops are on fire and on getting here, the damage had been done. We only appealed to the state government to come to our aid. Some expensive machines have been destroyed here including our goods.

Another victim who recounted the incident said, “We suspect foul play here. It started with an explosion. There was no electricity around that time; it was like petrol had been deposited around that section even the security man on ground told us that the inferno started after a loud sound in the market. We have lost our fortune here; Oyo state government should help us.

The Babaloja of Oyo state, Chief Asiwaju Yekeen Abass said details of the fire disaster and the damage done would be communicated to the state government for necessary actions.

As of the time of this report, the affected traders were seen picking up the pieces of their goods razed by the inferno while others were seen in groups discussing the development.