Bolatito Abayomi
An early morning fire outbreak has destroyed several shops at the popular Oranyan Market in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State, leaving traders counting their losses.
The fire, which reportedly started around midnight, affected different sections of the market, with traders dealing in gold, furniture, second-hand clothing and other goods among those impacted.
Although eyewitnesses could not confirm the exact time the fire started, some accounts suggested that the inferno began around midnight. Unconfirmed reports had earlier put the number of affected shops at over 200.
A trader who witnessed the incident said the fire caused severe damage to businesses within the market, adding that several categories of traders were affected.
The Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services and Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reforms, Morof Akinwande, confirmed the incident, but cautioned against giving a specific figure on the number of shops destroyed until a proper assessment is completed.
According to him, preliminary findings indicated that the fire started from the middle of the market following an explosion, although investigations are ongoing to determine whether it was caused by gas or another source.
Akinwande explained that the situation was brought under control by 1:00 a.m., preventing the fire from spreading to other parts of the market.
He said the actual number of affected shops and the value of goods lost would be determined after a detailed post-fire investigation.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over recurring fire outbreaks in major markets across Oyo State, as traders continue to face the risk of losing their businesses and investments.
It would be recalled that a similar fire outbreak occurred at the herbal section of Oranyan Market in 2024, where more than 200 shops were reportedly destroyed.
The latest fire also occurred shortly after another incident at the Nigerian Railway Shopping Complex along Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area, where nine shops were affected.
The Oyo State Fire Agency has commenced an investigation to determine the cause of the latest inferno.
