Late-Night Fire Devastates Ibadan Market,12 Shops Destroyed

A late-night fire outbreak at the Mayegun Cement Store Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, has destroyed no fewer than 12 shops, leaving traders counting their losses. The incident occurred on Thursday night and raged for more than three hours before it was brought under control.

Eyewitnesses told journalists on Friday that the fire began at approximately 10:55 PM at Block A, No. 64 of the market, located in the Araromi area of Agodi-Gate. The flames reportedly spread rapidly through the row of shops, fueled by combustible materials in the vicinity.

Preliminary findings suggest that the inferno was caused by an electrical surge that occurred near items susceptible to catching fire, escalating the damage.

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Confirming the incident, the General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, said the agency received an emergency alert at exactly 11:02 PM.

“Our control room received a distress call at 23:02 hours on Thursday, April 10, 2025,” he said. “The alert came in through a phone call placed by a Mr. Young, who reported a fire outbreak at the specified address. Our response team, led by Chief Fire Superintendent Jimoh, was immediately dispatched to the location.”

Upon arrival, fire personnel met several shops already engulfed in flames. “We acted swiftly to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby properties,” Akinyinka stated.

Despite the destruction of 12 shops, the fire service noted that property worth billions of naira was salvaged due to the prompt intervention. The firefighting operation concluded around 3:18 AM on Friday.

Local traders and market leaders have called for improved fire safety measures in the area, including better electrical infrastructure and accessible fire extinguishers, to prevent future disasters.