An early morning fire has gutted farmland located in Onipepe axis of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, and destroyed palm trees worth millions of naira.
The farmland belongs to the former Nigerian Ambassador to Zambia/Malawi, Mrs. Folake Marcus-Bello.
Our correspondent gathered that the fire incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, ravaged the 10 hectares of the farmland known as Folake B Farm, destroying over 500 palm trees among other farm products.
The cause of the fire at the farmland located along Siun-Sagamu-Abeokuta expressway was still unknown, but it was further gathered that the inferno lasted for about four hours, before it was put out.
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During a visit to the farmland on Thursday, it was observed that palm trees affected were burnt to ashes.
The manager of the farmland, Mrs. Adesola Adebayo, explained that she got a phone call from villagers at about 4.30pm, informing her about the fire, and she had to rush down to the scene.
She said on arrival, she and other villagers were helpless on the volume of the fire, which was spreading without control, adding that the harmattan situation contributed to the fast spread of the fire which caused serious damages
“I don’t know the cause of the fire; maybe it was caused by hunters looking for bush meat, who might have put fire on the bush to track the animals. One cannot also rule out activities of some unscrupulous elements who may deliberately set the farmland on fire. The harmattan further worsen the situation,” Adebayo said.
The former Nigerian Ambassador confirmed the “sad development,” adding that she was short of words when she heard about the development, stressing that she has committed millions of naira to the farmland.
“This is disturbing and worrisome. I am short of words and it was difficult to believe. Just as we are looking forward to harvest, the inferno destroyed millions of naira farm products. The larger part of the 10 hectares of the farmland has been consumed,” she said.
