Chairman of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Engr. Gabriel Iduseri, on Thursday, clarified that the fire that gutted the Oba Market on Wednesday night was caused by a solar panel.

Iduseri, who visited the market on Thursday morning, after the incident, said only one shop was damaged by the blaze. Firefighters and security officers quickly controlled the fire before it could cause more harm.

The chairman stated that this is the second fire in five years at Oba Market. Reconstruction work has now started in the affected area, adding that the cause was traced to a faulty solar panel. He warned that traders will no longer be allowed to place solar panels in their shops to avoid another fire disaster.

“The council will also inspect all electrical wiring in the market area to prevent future fires. Iduseri promised support for the trader whose shop was damaged. Sadly, that trader collapsed shortly after the fire broke out but was attended to quickly,” he stated.

“We learned that solar panels caused the fire. We are going to stop installation of solar panels and check all the electrical wiring in the market.

“I want to assure that we will support the affected trader to get back to business. There is not so much damage. No life was lost. Oredo local government was here and we put measures in place to prevent thieves,” he said.

Iduseri reassured that no lives were lost, and measures are set to protect traders’ properties, including actions to stop theft after the fire. Traders and shoppers have been urged to be more careful with electrical devices.