Property worth millions of naira was destroyed when a fire gutted 12 shops at the Agodi Mayegun Cement Store Market in Ibadan on Thursday night.
The Oyo State Fire Service, in a statement on Friday, confirmed that it received a distress call from one Mr. Young who reported the outbreak. Firefighters were swiftly mobilised to the scene and immediately commenced firefighting operations.
Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, General Manager of the Fire Service, said the prompt response of the firefighters helped to curtail the spread of the fire and salvaged property worth billions of naira.
Akinyinka linked the cause of the fire to a power surge, stressing the importance of electrical safety and vigilance, especially in commercial spaces.
Eyewitnesses told NAN that the fire started at Block A, Shop No. 64, and raged for over three hours before it was eventually extinguished. The blaze consumed several goods and left many shop owners counting their losses.
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This incident adds to the growing number of fire outbreaks reported in Ibadan in 2025. Earlier this year, on January 3, a fire incident occurred in the Oluyole Local Government Area, destroying four shops near Topfeeds along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. That fire was caused by an unattended cooking flame.
Similarly, on January 19, another fire broke out in the Alaro area of Ibadan, burning down seven shops and causing significant financial losses. In February, an electrical spark ignited a fire that razed a one-storey residential building with ten rooms and three shops on Liberty Road, Oke-Ado.
These recurring incidents reflect the urgent need for improved fire safety awareness and stronger regulatory enforcement in markets and residential areas.
Market leaders are now urging the state government to support affected traders and install fire extinguishing equipment in key commercial centres across the city.
The Oyo State Fire Service continues to advise residents and business owners to avoid unsafe electrical practices, ensure proper installations, and promptly report any fire emergency through official channels.
NAN
