Fire has reportedly razed part of the Ifelodun Plank Market, reputed to be the biggest in Osogbo, in the early hours of Tuesday.

Residents of Alekuwodo, where the plank market is located, told our news soucre that they saw smoke coming out from the market around midnight and contacted some of the traders.

Despite the prompt response by the men of the Osun State Fire Service, over 40 machines and planks worth over N150m were said to have been lost to the inferno.

Also, a newly-completed mosque built by the traders in the market was partially razed by the inferno that lasted several hours.

During a visit to the market, the Vice Chairman, Ifelodun Plank Sellers Association, Alekuwodo, Prince Tiamiyu Adeniyi, told our correspondence residents of the area called some of the traders around midnight that the market was on fire.

Adeniyi stated, “I was called around 1am that our market was on fire and immediately after I got that information, I came here. No one could say how the fire started.

“It was such a big loss for us. We lost over 40 machines that we used for business here. Apart from that, furniture that had yet to be collected by our customers also got burnt.

“Planks that were also being treated for usage were destroyed. On behalf of the affected traders here, we are appealing for assistance because the loss is huge.”

Osun State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, during a visit to the market, commiserated with the traders on their losses and urged them to ensure that they henceforth observed necessary safety precautions to forestall the reoccurrence of such an incident in the future.