There was crying and wailing in the ancient city of Offa in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State on Saturday following an early morning inferno which gutted Owode market, one of the largest markets in the state.

The inferno, which was said to have started around 1:30 am, razed down over 50 per cent of the market, according to an eyewitness account. It was said to have been caused by a power surge from an electric pole in the market.

Sunday Trust learnt that traders had complained about frequent electrical sparks emanating from a damaged pole to the electricity officials a day before the incident, with a view to rectifying the problem.

However, the spark continued in the midnight and eventually precipitated an inferno which burnt shops to ashes. Wares of different types worth billions of naira were lost.

Money estimated at over N800million was lost to the inferno while damaged structures were valued at over N1.2billion.

Fire service officials battled hard to put out the raging fire but they could not go deeper inside the market due to the enormity of the fire. An eyewitness who spoke to Daily Trust correspondent said, "The fire incident was a serious calamity. It started around 1:30 am and almost 50 per cent of the market was razed down."

Thick smoke was still bellowing from the market on Saturday morning after the fire service officials, comprising those of Offa Local Government Council, the Nigeria Navy and officials from Ilorin, put out the fire.

Shop owners and traders at the market were in tears yesterday, lamenting the huge loss they have incurred from the inferno.

The Offa LG Council chairman, Prince Abdulwaheed Olanipekun confirmed the incident to Sunday Trust, describing the inferno as huge, even as he estimated that over N2billion had been lost to the inferno.

He said, "It started in the early hours of today, and it lasted for about four hours. All efforts were made by the fire service, both from the council and the Navy. Assistance also came from Ilorin. The inferno was quite huge, and you know that Owode market is like the Aba of Kwara State.

"We thank Allah that no life was lost. We are calling on both the federal and state governments to come to the aid of the market women and men because of the huge financial losses arising from the inferno."

It was learnt that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is scheduled to inspect the market on Sunday.