Fire guts 14 shops at Ogundipe market in Ibadan

Tragedy struck at Ogundipe Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday when a fire outbreak destroyed 14 shops, leaving affected traders in despair as they counted their losses.

The incident was confirmed in a statement by Moroof Akinwande, Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reform and Chairman of the State Fire Services Agency.

He said, “The fire personnel led by CFS Olayiwola T.K. promptly mobilised and responded to the distressed call, who on arrival, met 14 out of 42 shops alight.”

Akinwande explained that the firefighters quickly contained the inferno, preventing it from spreading to adjoining shops.

“No casualty was recorded. The operation was carried out successfully, and properties worth billions of naira were saved by the officers of the fire service,” he added.

According to him, investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire. He advised traders across the state to be more safety-conscious and stressed the importance of equipping shops with fire extinguishers to combat small outbreaks at the early stage.

In a separate incident, a four-bedroom flat at No. 17, Ifesowapo Maternity, Zone 2, Ajoda, in Egbeda Local Government Area, was also destroyed by fire on Wednesday.

Akinwande said firemen were dispatched to the scene following a distress call received at 12:42 am.

He explained, “Immediately the address was received, firemen led by ACFS Adisa Wasiu promptly mobilised and deployed to the scene of the incident. On getting there, it was a private residential building of a four-bedroom flat and an adjoining two-bathroom flat engulfed by fire. Our officers swiftly swung into action, and the fire was restricted from spreading to nearby buildings and properties. No casualty was recorded, and properties worth millions of naira were lost.”

He attributed the incident to an electrical surge caused by a plugged device left unattended.

Akinwande urged residents to always switch off and unplug all electrical appliances when not in use particularly at the close of work and before going to bed to prevent fire outbreaks.