A devastating fire swept through 12 shops in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday night, destroying property worth millions of naira.
According to witnesses, the fire began at around 10:55 p.m. at Block A, No. 64, Mayegun Cement Store Market, located in the Araromi area of Agodi-Gate, and continued for over three hours before it was brought under control.
Initial investigations suggest that the fire was caused by an electricity surge near highly combustible materials.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Yemi Akinyinka, the General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, confirmed the incident. He stated that the fire service received an emergency call at 11:02 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Akinyinka added that fire personnel, led by Cfs Jimoh, were quickly deployed to the scene. Upon arrival, they found several shops engulfed in flames but managed to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures.
Despite the significant damage to 12 shops, the fire service was able to save property worth billions of naira.
The team returned to the station at 3:18 a.m. and remained on standby.
The cause of the fire has been traced to an electrical surge, and authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage.