Fire Razes Shops In Oyo

At least twelve stores were destroyed by fire on Thursday evening in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Witnesses told The PUNCH, on Friday, that the fire began around 10:55pm at Block A, No 64, Mayegun Cement Store Market, Araromi, Agodi-Gate in Ibadan and raged for more than three hours before it was extinguished.

It was further learnt that property worth several million naira was destroyed during the inferno.

Investigations further revealed that the incident was a result of electricity surge near combustible materials.

Confirming the incident to our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital, on Friday, the General Manager of the state fire service, Yemi Akinyinka, said the agency received the distressed call at exactly 11:02 pm.

He said, “The agency’s control room received the distressed call at exactly 23:02 hrs on Thursday, April 10, 2025, through telephoning and Mr Young to report a shop fire at the above address.

“The fire personnel, led by Cfs Jimoh, promptly deployed to the scene of the fire incident. On arrival, we met some lockup shops well alight, and we swiftly swung into action and restricted the fire from spreading to other nearby shops.

“The fire affected 12 out of multiple numbers of shops and we were able to save property worth billions of naira in the market. The appliance returned to the station by 03:18hrs and on standby.”