300 Shops Razed in Ibadan Market Fire
About 300 shops were reportedly destroyed by fire at Oranya Market in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Monday morning.
The fire caused panic among traders as flames spread through parts of the market, destroying shops and goods.
Those affected included gold sellers, furniture dealers, second-hand clothes sellers and other traders.
The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reforms and Chairman of Oyo State Fire Services, Morof Akinwande, confirmed the incident.
Akinwande, however, said the exact number of shops destroyed could not be immediately confirmed.
“Yes, it occurred. That number we cannot ascertain, but what is known is that some shops were destroyed,” he said.
He said the fire started in the middle of the market following an explosion.
According to him, it was not yet clear whether the explosion was caused by gas or another source.
“And when you have a gas explosion, it would spread, but as I am talking to you, the situation has been under control since 1am,” Akinwande said.
The incident occurred barely two days after another fire destroyed nine locked-up shops at the Nigerian Railway shopping complex along Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.
The fire reportedly started around 5am on Saturday and damaged the shops before firefighters were alerted.
The latest incident has raised fresh concerns about fire outbreaks in markets across Ibadan.
Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the fire and determine the full extent of the damage suffered by the affected traders.
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