A Nigerian woman has reportedly sparked reactions online after claiming she took a sachet of seasoning cubes worth ₦300 during the recent fire outbreak at Oluku Market in Edo State and later decided to return it following reports of a warning attributed to the traditional deity Ayelala.
In a statement circulating on social media, the woman said she had gone to Ayelala’s shrine to return the item she allegedly took from a table during the incident.
“I have come to Ayelala’s house to return the ₦300 Maggi I took from a table during the fire outbreak at Oluku Market days ago,” she reportedly said.
Her statement followed claims circulating online that Ayelala, a traditional deity associated with justice and the punishment of wrongdoing in parts of southern Nigeria, had been invoked over reports of items allegedly taken from the market during the fire emergency. According to the claims, those who removed goods belonging to traders were warned to return them or face the consequences.
However, the reported visit by the deity and the woman’s account have not been independently verified. It also remains unclear whether the woman actually returned the seasoning cubes or whether the statement was made humorously in response to the circulating claims.
The Oluku Market fire occurred on October 15, 2026, after a petrol tanker reportedly fell near the market along the Benin-Lagos Expressway. The tanker later caught fire, damaging market stalls, vehicles and traders’ goods. The Edo State Police Command subsequently confirmed that eight people sustained varying degrees of burns in the incident.
The disaster left traders facing significant losses, with many reportedly losing goods and property to the inferno. Governor Monday Okpebholo later visited the affected market and injured victims receiving treatment, while reiterating his administration’s commitment to helping traders recover and rebuilding the market.
Against this backdrop, the allegation that people may have taken goods during the emergency has generated further discussion about the plight of traders who lost their livelihoods. Stealing from businesses affected by a disaster can deepen victims’ losses at a time when they are already struggling to recover.
Ayelala is traditionally revered in several communities across southern Nigeria, particularly among some Yoruba, Ijaw and neighbouring ethnic communities, as a spiritual authority associated with truth, justice and accountability. Beliefs surrounding the deity have historically influenced responses to alleged wrongdoing, including disputes involving stolen property.
A similar episode was reported following the December 2019 fire at Ekiosa Market in Benin City, when Ayelala worshippers were reportedly called upon after goods were allegedly looted. Contemporary reports said some items were subsequently returned.
While the latest claim about the ₦300 seasoning cubes has attracted attention because of the small value involved, the broader issue is the protection of traders’ property during emergencies. As discussions continue online, the woman’s statement remains an unverified social media claim rather than an independently established account of events at Ayelala’s shrine.
