Fire razes property worth millions in Okitipupa

By Kayode Olabanji, Okitipupa
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A fire outbreak has wreaked havoc in Okitipupa, the headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government Area in Ondo State, destroying properties worth millions of naira.
The inferno, which occurred around 8:10 p.m. yesterday, happened opposite New Garage near the Army Checking Point. The fire gutted a building with about 15 shops, including one filled with mattresses and other goods.
Despite the swift response of passersby, the cause of the fire remains unknown at the time of filing this report.
This incident comes less than a month after the Caring Heart Market in the same area was gutted by fire, sparking concerns over repeated disasters.
Residents have lamented the absence of functional fire services in the area and are urging the state government to take immediate action to restore firefighting facilities.
They have also called for stricter fire safety measures and public awareness campaigns to avert future occurrences.
One of the sympathisers, Muideen Olaotan, commended residents for their quick response but appealed for government intervention.
“We don’t know the cause of the fire, but we thank God for the quick action of the people. I appeal to the state government to restore fire service operations here to prevent further occurrences,” he said.