We Lost Millions, Our Lives Have Been Ruined

We Lost Millions, Our Lives Have Been Ruined

It was a Thursday that they would remember for a long time, if not a lifetime. The day began with the usual buying and selling at Ibadan’s popular Apata market area, with traders greeting customers as early as 7 a.m.

They had hoped for a smooth day, and it was unlikely that any of them would have wished to lose their source of income.

Many of the traders saw more opportunities to make more sales as the day progressed and faded. However, a loud noise a few meters away frightened the traders. The somewhat orderly atmosphere of the evening market devolved into chaos, forcing many traders to abandon their stalls and flee for safety. Even though it was 6:10 p.m., the sky was dark, with the only light illuminating the area coming from a raging fire that had consumed a few shops.

Read Also Make Way For The Champ: Moment Almakura Presented A Trophy To Tinubu For His Media Friendliness(Video)

“It was like a bomb explosion had occurred and day suddenly turned night with everyone wandering and scampering for safety,” an eyewitness who simply gave his name as Sunday Afolabi told Sunday Tribune of the experience that will change their lives forever.

A tanker carrying diesel had lost control due to brake failure and was speeding away from everything and everyone in its path. The thunderous screams of people on the other side of the road, where the tanker was heading, alerted traders whose shops were close to the road side to get out of the way quickly to avoid being caught in the disaster waiting to happen.

A few seconds later, the tanker had skidded off the road and caught fire, destroying shops and businesses. While the traders were fortunate not to be caught in the fire, their goods and other wares were not, as the fire destroyed goods worth millions of naira.

On sunday many traders who were affected by the ugly incident were still counting their losses. The mood was pensive as none of them was yet to come to terms with how their lifetime investment could be ruined while they watched helplessly.

Pointing at his burnt shop, Lazarus Chukwu looked dejected and hopeless. His were heavy and his fingers looked dirty, saying “I have been picking the floor looking for nothing. I don’t even know what I am doing at this moment. Where do I start from? How do I pay back the loan I took from bank? Another repayment day is on Thursday. I don’t know where to raise the money or where to go from here”, he said looking dejected.