Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A devastating fire outbreak in the early hours of Thursday, April 23, 2026, has completely destroyed a sawmill workshop belonging to Mr. Emmanuel O. Odeleye in the Aroje‑Abaa area of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, leaving the family in a dire financial predicament and prompting an urgent appeal for public assistance. The workshop, located within Abodere’s Compound, contained sawmill machinery, processing equipment, and stockpiles of timber worth millions of naira, all of which were consumed by the flames before firefighters could arrive. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and no casualties have been reported, but the economic loss is estimated to be catastrophic for a family that depended entirely on the workshop for its livelihood.
Neighbours who first noticed the blaze around 2:00 a.m. raised the alarm, but the fire had already gained significant momentum, fed by piles of dry wood and sawdust. By the time local residents mobilised to contain it, the workshop was already beyond salvage. “We heard a loud sound, like an explosion, then we saw flames shooting up from the sawmill. We tried to put it out with buckets of water and sand, but it was too strong. We could only watch as everything burnt down,” said a neighbour who identified himself as Mr. Adebayo. The Oyo State Fire Service was contacted, but by the time firefighting trucks arrived, the workshop had been reduced to a smouldering heap of twisted metal and ash.
Mr. Odeleye, the owner, who has operated the sawmill for nearly two decades, was in a state of shock as he surveyed the ruins. Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, he described the sawmill as the only source of income for his extended family, which includes his wife, children, and elderly parents. “All my machines, the engines, the cutting blades, the planks I had just bought, everything is gone. I don't know where to start from. I am appealing to the government, to well‑meaning Nigerians, to please come to our aid. We have nothing left,” he said, his voice trembling. The family has not provided a specific monetary figure for the loss, but local estimates suggest the value of the destroyed equipment and materials exceeds several million naira.
Fire outbreaks in industrial workshops, particularly in the informal sector, are a recurring challenge in Nigerian cities. Ogbomoso, a major town in Oyo State known for its woodworking and carpentry industries, has witnessed several similar incidents over the years, often attributed to faulty electrical wiring, improper storage of flammable materials, and a lack of emergency equipment. The Ogbomoso Sawmill Association, which represents dozens of woodworkers in the area, has repeatedly called for government intervention to improve fire safety standards and provide firefighting infrastructure in the town’s industrial clusters. Following Thursday’s blaze, the association’s chairman, Alhaji Saliu Adewale, visited the scene and expressed solidarity with Mr. Odeleye’s family. “This is a great loss not only to the family but to our entire community. We are calling on the Oyo State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide immediate relief and help this family rebuild,” he said.
Efforts to reach the Oyo State Fire Service for an official statement on the cause of the fire were unsuccessful as of the time of this report. Calls to the service’s emergency line went unanswered, and no officer was available for comment at the scene. Local residents alleged that the fire service’s response was delayed due to the poor condition of access roads leading to the Aroje‑Abaa area, a complaint that has been made repeatedly to the local government over the years. The Ogbomoso North Local Government Area Chairman, who visited the site later in the morning, promised to investigate the incident and provide emergency relief materials to the affected family, but he did not commit to any concrete financial assistance.
Mr. Odeleye’s wife, Mrs. Florence Odeleye, tearfully narrated how the sawmill was the backbone of their family’s finances, paying school fees, medical bills, and daily sustenance. “My husband started this business from scratch. We have no other income. Our children are in school. What will they eat? How will we survive?” she said. The couple has five children, three of whom are in tertiary institutions. The loss of the sawmill could force them to drop out unless the family receives urgent support.
In response to the tragedy, a relative has set up a crowdfunding appeal on social media, using the hashtag #SaveOdeleyeSawmill. As of Thursday afternoon, a modest sum had been raised from well‑wishers, but it is far short of what is needed to replace even a fraction of the lost equipment. The family has also appealed to religious organisations, local businesses, and the Oyo State Government to step in with grants or low‑interest loans to enable Mr. Odeleye to restart his trade.
The Ogbomoso community has shown its characteristic spirit of solidarity. Neighbours and fellow woodworkers have begun contributing food items and cash, and a local church has offered to host a fundraising event on Sunday. However, such gestures, while heartwarming, cannot replace the capital‑intensive machinery that powered the workshop.
Mr. Odeleye, who had only recently completed the installation of a new circular saw blade and a modern planing machine, said he had no fire insurance because premiums were too expensive for small‑scale operators like himself. “We always hope it will not happen to us. But it did. I am appealing to everyone who hears my cry to please help me rebuild. I am not a lazy man; I will work again. I just need a little help to stand up,” he pleaded.
The fire at Abodere’s Compound follows a similar incident in February 2026 when a furniture workshop in Ganmo, near Ilorin, was razed by an electrical fire, destroying equipment worth over ₦12 million. That case also ended with a public appeal. Experts have consistently recommended that state governments establish low‑cost fire insurance schemes for micro‑enterprises and enforce mandatory safety inspections for all commercial workshops. Until such measures are implemented, families like the Odeleyes will remain vulnerable to sudden, life‑altering disasters.
As the sun set over the charred remains of the sawmill, Mr. Odeleye stood motionless, staring at the skeleton of his life’s work. “God knows why this happened,” he whispered. “But I believe He will also provide a way out.” For now, the way out depends on the compassion of strangers and the responsiveness of a government that has yet to ease the pain of a man whose only crime was trying to earn an honest living.
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