A devastating fire broke out late Thursday evening on Alhaji Odo Street in the Odundun area of Ile-Oluji, the administrative center of Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area, Ondo State.
The blaze, reportedly caused by a power surge from an electrical fault, engulfed a residential building, leaving multiple families in distress and resulting in the loss of property valued at several million naira.
Eyewitnesses said the fire erupted suddenly and spread rapidly, consuming household items, important documents, and 36 kegs of palm oil.
The inferno, which rattled the usually peaceful farming community, was met with frantic but unsuccessful attempts by residents to contain it.
Mr. Olanrewaju Festus Oladipo, who witnessed the incident, described the scene as heartbreaking.
He noted that the absence of functional firefighting equipment made the situation worse.
“We rushed to the fire service station on a motorcycle, but were told they had no working equipment. It was painful to watch the building burn helplessly,” he said.
One of the residents, Mrs. Bukola Afolabi, recounted the terrifying moments when the fire began.
She attributed the cause to unstable electricity in the area.
“We had complained about power outages, and were told by a BEDC official that the transformer issue had been resolved. But after power was restored briefly and went off again, we noticed a strange smell and sound — and then the fire started,” she explained.
Mrs. Afolabi managed to escape with her children but lost everything, including vital documents and family belongings.
She said all six households in the building, including the landlord’s, were affected. All residents are farmers, she added.
Calling for urgent attention, Afolabi appealed to the government to regulate electricity distribution and improve emergency response infrastructure.
She also expressed appreciation to neighbors who tried to help during the crisis.
Another resident, Mr. Taiwo Fayehun, criticized the persistent lack of firefighting services in the area and urged the government to prioritize safety.
“This isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred.
We need a properly equipped fire service in Ile-Oluji. It’s a basic service that the government must provide,” he stated.
Victims and community members are now appealing to the Ondo State Government and the local council for support and preventive measures to avoid a recurrence of such tragedies.