Assist victims of Oke-Owode market inferno
Remi OLANIYI
I share in the grief of the traders who lost stocks, equipment, furniture and fittings and business premises to the inferno that engulfed the Oke Owode market. “Olorun a f’ofo r’emi o”.
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It is quite disheartening to hear that the fire brigade station is just a kilometre away and yet the sad incident could not be averted, or better still, goods and property salvaged. The excuse of the fire brigade of their vehicle not in good working condition is untenable. One of the rules of engagement of fire fighters is “preparation.”
A good fire fighting service is always prepared for emergency on a daily basis and the equipment serviced, maintained and set for rapid response to emergency calls. But, it is unfortunate that our fire fighters are deficient in standard best practice in fire fighting.
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It is high time the government of Oyo state provided enough funds for revamping the state fire brigade service. The officers and men should be trained and re-trained in modern techniques/methods of fire fighting. Modern equipment and vehicles be purchased to facilitate their efficiency and effectiveness on duty call. The personnel should be well remunerated and insurance cover taken for them given the risky nature of their job.
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Passionate appeals go to the Oyo state government to be compassionate enough to compensate the traders who incurred heavy losses as a result of the fire incident. Their losses need to be mitigated in order to save them from depression.
Olaniyi contributed this piece in the comment section of ogbomosoinsightonline.com in response to the story of the inferno that gutted some shops at Oke-Owode Ogbomoso during the week in which goods worth over N50m was lost.
He can be reached via remiolaniyi2003@yahoo.com
